UTSA to test outdoor emergency notification system on Wednesday, Dec. 22

By Tim Brownlee
Assistant Director of Public Affairs

(Dec. 15, 2010)--UTSA officials will conduct a test of the university's Giant Voice outdoor mass notification system at the Main Campus between 10 and 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 22. Those on the UTSA Main Campus and the surrounding community may hear messages on the outdoor speaker system and should not be concerned when the tests are conducted. The test will consist of three tones followed by a brief announcement that it is a test of the emergency notification system.

The indoor and outdoor notification system was launched in September 2009 to augment the university's emergency notification system. The system features four outdoor speaker arrays that deliver recorded or live voice announcements that can be heard optimally within 1,600 feet of each speaker array.

To prepare the UTSA and surrounding communities for system testing, the university will work with apartment complexes, neighborhood associations, businesses, media outlets, the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management and other officials to provide information on the new system and a testing timetable.

"UTSA has a rigorous, multi-layered and multifaceted emergency notification system," said Donovan Agans, UTSA director of business continuity and emergency management. "Our Reverse 911, Giant Voice, digital signage network and the Internet are all facets of an intensive effort to ensure UTSA has multiple ways to inform students, faculty, staff and visitors of emergency situations. We are not relying on any one means to inform our community of a crisis."

For more information, visit the UTSA Office of Business Continuity and Emergency Management website or call 210-458-6851.