Many Jackson County residents felt the earth shake and rumble for several seconds Wednesday morning, creating a myriad of suspicions as to what had happened, but officials believe sonic booms from jets may have been the cause. Civil Defence Director Butch Loper said about 10 a.m. two loud noises that shook houses, windows and the ground were reported throughout the county. Loper said deputies were dispatched but no explosions were reported at any local industries, which prompted Loper to then call local airports in Pascagoula, Gulfport and Mobile, as well as Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi and the National Weather Service.