Air raid siren?

anonymous · January 2008

I just moved to Brooklyn Heights and I love it. What a great neighborhood. I was wondering if anyone has heard what sounds like an Air Raid Siren or a huge vacuum cleaner that seems to be coming from the piers somewhere? It sounds for about 2 minutes and then stops. It happens 3 times a night or not at all. Very odd.

anonymous · February 2008

Subject: E

I heard a sound very similar to your description while walking along the promenade on Monday at about 7:30. I did not actually see the source of the sound but I think it was coming from refrigerator trucks parked below the BQE. It was loud enough to hear all the way to Hicks St.. I never noticed it before. WOW. I guess I've lived in the city too long.

alana · February 2008

Subject: Sound

It might be the siren the Hasidic use to signify the sabbath on Friday nights your hearing, it's really loud in my neighbrohood, is it only on Fridays?

anonymous · March 2008

Subject: 7:20 PM Thursday 3/27/2008

I hear what your talking about. It's really LOUD!!!

anonymous · March 2008

Subject: 7:20 - 7:38 very weird

It just stopped. That is weird. I could not find the source.

anonymous · March 2008

Subject: 7:20 - 7:38 very weird

It just stopped. 7:20 - 7:38 That is weird. I could not find the source.

anonymous · April 2008

Subject: Saturday Morning 4/12/08

That noise your talking about seems to be coming from the Manhattan side. It's been going all morning. I cant see where it's coming from because of the heavy fog.

anonymous · April 2008

Subject: not an air raid siren

This is a very loud generator from below the BQE. I saw it. It sounds like a huge vacuum, or a jet engine, or an enormous GPU (ground power unit) THAT"S WHAT IT IS!!!!!! WHY IS IT THERE???????

newguy4 · August 2008

Subject: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That generator is loud. I have had my air conditioner on and haven't noticed it until I turned it off. Can we get them to turn it off?

chucky · January 2010

Subject: human rights should precede any religion

I don't live in Midwood anymore. I read there is a Shabbos siren on top of the building at Ave N & East 19 Street. People are complaining, even elderly Jews reminding them of war sirens of old. I can't believe the gall people have for doing this. I personally would have to hear it myself. I never thought that I would NOT want to live in Midwood again.

I also read the decibal level is over the legal limit, but the city cannot do anything due to religious laws? BS! This is about money and power AND f_cking over anybody who doesn't like it! No one should have the right to step on anyone's toes. God forbid people are killed by over-stressed neighbors, because power-hungry religious zealots want things their way. But by then, it's too late. What goes around, comes around.

At the very least change the siren to a more celebratory sound. Then that would back up the Orthodox Jewish people's religious claims.

xpiamchris · February 2010

hmm anyone have any idea on what it is?

jarvis · March 2010

was wondering about this today after I heard it off and on for 20 mins.. called 311 but they had no idea (asked if i wanted to file a complaint against the air raid). from basic web searches, it seems like the start of sabbath siren that goes off about 1/2 hour before sundown on fridays in Williamsburg.

fortgreenmayor · May 2010

I've heard this siren for years. I moved to Bed Stuy a couple of years ago from Ft. Green and I seem to be hearing it more and more lately. The frequency increases in the spring and summer months. usually around sundown, sometimes 2 sirens at once, sometimes 2 times in one evening. this also happens on every day of the week not just friday. it is very loud and goes on for nearly an hour.

The siren has been measured by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at over 100 decibels. The legal limit for noise is 45 decibels. The DEP spent over two year trying to stop the siren from blasting the community. However they failed because religious institutions are granted immunity from the New York City Noise Codes.

Section 24-217 of the New York City Noise Code reads as follows:
§24-217 Exemptions. The provisions of this code shall not apply to the operation or use of any organ, bell, chimes or other similar instrument [by] from on or within any church, synagogue, mosque or [school] other house of worship.

The New York City Noise Code should be religion-neutral. Freedom of religion is not an absolute freedom. Roman Catholic priest who molest children are not exempt from prosecution. Mormons who marry more than one wife at a time are not exempt from bigamy prosecution and the matrimony laws. Islamic Fascists who build and store bombs in Mosques cannot claim the protection of the First Amendment. Female circumcision is banned in New York. Rastafarians who smoke Marijuana are not immune from the drug laws.
Why should religious institutions be exempt from the Noise Code?

nyc2007 · February 2011

Well.... I live in Midwood for a year and half now and the first time I heard it scared me.. I didn't know what to think it was, maybe a tornado, or a tsunami.. I even thought we were under attack and that I should run and hide under my desk. The mystery continued until finally all annoyed by it I decided to find what the hell it means...

Why can't they use bells instead?? or a more pleasant sound??!!

prodigalson · February 2011

What's this? New Yorkers complaining about noise? Last time I was in God's Country there was noise seemingly from every corner and space everywhere.

When I moved here to Lake Wobegone in '87 I had to get used to the tornado alarm - darn thing is god awful loud. But it does serve its purpose. Unfortunately, some counties here and in Cornhead Land (that's Iowa to you) or Cheeseheadville (Wisconsin) don't have alarms and it can be risky if you venture forth from home not knowing there's a twister along the way.

Air raid siren?

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