Giant Voice Published Oct. 28, 2009 By Angele Cutrer Keesler News Staff KEESLER Miss -- 'Giant Voice' makes itself heard on base By Angela Cutrer Keesler News staff Since it's that spooky time of season, go ahead and plan on hearing voices in your head -- no, not from ghosts, but from the new Giant Voice Emergency Management System that's being installed on base. Giant Voice is a "comprehensive, flexible emergency system that provides easily understandable information," its Web site said. "Each siren can be selected from a map and then an action can be chosen from one of the onscreen menus. Predefined sequences are also available for the system by assigning sequences to the programmable activation keys." So, why does Keesler need to go from five speakers to the 17 towers of Giant Voice? It's so you're sure to hear those voices in your head, especially in times of trouble. "These 17 towers will provide complete base coverage, including the base housing," said Staff Sgt. Cheyenne Youngbird, 81st Communications Squadron project manager. "That means better clarity, less echo and complete synchronicity to provide 100 percent clear notification for the base populace." Tower locations are Thrower Park, East Falcon, West Falcon and Bayridge housing areas; former Oak Park, Harrison Court and North Pinehaven housing areas; south of Keesler Events Center construction area, marina park, east of child development center, south side of Blake Fitness Center, south of Wolfe Hall parking lot, west of 81st Security Forces Squadron building, in front of Jones Hall, east of temporary main exchange, east of vehicle operations building and center of the Triangle training area. McClain Contracting is in the process of installing the new Giant Voice System on 17 towers being mounted on the main base and in the housing areas. The Giant Voice System will then cover areas in previously silent spots. The two-week testing segment begins Nov. 9. "The contractor will check hardware and physical installation, making sure there is sufficient power to them," said Sergeant Youngbird. "So, until Nov. 6, the base can expect power outages in specific areas around each tower site. Base civil engineering will notify affected housing and other facilities across the base." Nov. 16 is when sound will begin, and that will last for about a week. The contractor will be checking to make sure the decibel levels will be appropriate and synchronizing properly and in a manageable fashion. Nov. 23, the old towers will be taken down and stored at Keesler, and that signifies when the new towers will permanently replace the old ones. Sergeant Youngbird said that though the contractor's contractual end date is Dec. 15, they're attempting to get everything done before Thanksgiving. For more information, call 377-2277 or e-mail cheyenne. youngbird@us.af.mil.