Listen to Ross and Burbank weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
 Ross+Burbank


West Seattle residents reporting mystery hum

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on September 6, 2012 @ 6:12 am (Updated: 10:11 am - 9/6/12 )

cedargrove
Residents in West Seattle are reporting an odd mystery hum is keeping them awake. (AP Photo/file)

Residents in West Seattle are reporting an odd mystery hum is keeping them awake.

Some residents find the sound oddly ominous. Many just want to know what it is.

"It's kind of creepy. It creeps you out physically a little bit. It will keep you awake, because it's peculiar. This noise is very odd, but we want to know. Tell us what it is," resident Kay Kirkpatrick tells KING 5.

West Seattle Blog Editor Tracy Record says it's not time to call Mulder and Scully just yet, but the noise is definitely real.

"This actually really is out there," Record tells The Ross and Burbank Show. "There are rational people actually some of the readers that I've met in person and I know are not wearing tin-foil hats who have noticed this."

In a post at the West Seatle Blog, Record says this isn't the first time the sound has been heard. Back in 2009, the sound was heard by area residents, and she says the noise has been discussed on and off in WSB's discussion forums.

"It sort of turns up now and then, but never in such force as a few days ago," says Record.

After contacting the city, the Department of Planning and Development's noise inspector told the WSB that to follow up on the sound they need a precise location to investigate.

One West Seattle Blog forum contributor who went out searching for the noise suggests the Lafarge plant on West Marginal Way may be to blame. When Record contacted the plant, she says they were open to investigating whether or not they were the source, and set up a contact line they plan to check daily for any noise reports that might be linked to their activity. Observances of the sound can be reported to the plant at (206) 336-0988.

Residents that would like to issue an official noise complaint with the city can direct them to the noise abatement coordinators at (206) 684-7843 or by email to noise@seattle.gov.

Listen to Tracy Record on Ross and Burbank:

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
Related:
More Ross and Burbank

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (9)


  • Add A Comment

  • s-m-r-tblond wrote...
    Good to know I am not going crazy
    September 6, 2012 7:02 am
    I live in Delridge and it sounds close by - To me it sounds like a substation or a really big generator. The weird thing is that a couple of nights the noise sounded like it was coming from the northeast and last night it sounded like it was coming from the southwest. Just glad I am not the only one who has heard it! :-)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    These mystery sounds
    September 6, 2012 9:23 am
    are reported in many places from time to time. Often it is never discovered what is causing them.

    One theory (outside of govt conspiracy stuff) is they MAY be related to earthquake activity. There have been several large earthquakes around the globe recently and a swarm of smaller quakes around western Washington and off the coast. Keeping an earthquake kit with nearby is always a good idea.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    sounds like a fog horn from an old steam ship - or something nautical.
    September 6, 2012 9:46 am
    Harbor Island? Or something on the Duwamish would be my bet.

    Twilight zone, this is not.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Driesel206 wrote...
    lasts too long to be a fog horn
    September 6, 2012 9:58 am
    Its definitely not something from HI as most of west seattlites know those sounds, it is very weird though whatever it is. it last for hours.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    Fifty
    September 6, 2012 12:16 pm
    sounds of vibrators
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    I was hearing something
    September 6, 2012 3:22 pm
    2 nights ago, a resonating hum kind of fading in and out. I thought it was a helicopter circling down near W Marginal (tent city). I forgot all about it until I read this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Maybe it's one of those drones
    September 6, 2012 4:16 pm
    That LE has been considering. Just a thought. But then again it might just be that I was cheap and bought the generic foil instead of Reynolds for my helmet. :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Space ships
    September 6, 2012 4:25 pm
    Existing beyond the spectrum of visible light, but within the spectrum of audible sound.

    OK, not really- but that's a lot more fun than a generator plant or some audible harmonic waves created by a couple of cell phone towers......

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    A HUM?
    September 7, 2012 3:41 am
    Perhaps a large portion of W Seattle simply don't know the words
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }