EVERETT — Don’t be scared of growling noises coming from naval bases around the county this week.
People might hear loud sounds between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., from Wednesday into Friday. New speaker systems are scheduled to be tested at Naval Station Everett, the Navy Family Support Complex in Smokey Point and the Naval Radio Station Jim Creek in Arlington.
Those who are close might pick up voices, sirens, static, beeps and rumbling sounds. Volumes could fluctuate between low and high. Messages are expected to warn people when testing begins and ends.
Crews started building the system in late June. The speakers have been tested throughout the process, said Kristin Ching, spokeswoman for Naval Station Everett.
“If you’ve been hearing it lately, it should have only been around 11 (a.m.) or noon,” she said.
The tones should continue at about the same time during the trial.
Naval Station Everett also had an emergency drill last week, when neighbors might have heard talk about “suspicious packages” coming from the base, Ching said. That sort of training happens regularly.
The last set of speakers were installed about 15 years ago. They’ve been upgraded now to sound better and work more efficiently. In case of an emergency, speakers at all three naval bases would need to relay the same message. That is what’s being tested.
If all the equipment works as expected, people shouldn’t hear many more unexpected announcements after Friday.
Each Navy campus uses its sound systems daily to play the national anthem when raising the flag at 8 a.m., and Taps at sunset when it’s lowered.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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