Jan. 13 marks AMBER Alert Awareness Day

January 13 marked AMBER Alert Awareness Day. The AMBER Alert system originated in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas in 1996. It was created in response to the abduction and murder of Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl.

Local residents and radio stations in the Dallas area became concerned about the safety of children and wanted to help prevent future abductions. The Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Radio Managers and local law enforcement agencies partnered to develop an early warning system The system was initially broadcast on radio stations, but television stations joined in 1999.

AMBER stands for ‘America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response,’ and law enforcement issues an AMBER Alert when they believe a child has been abducted and is in immediate danger. The alerts are distributed through radio, television, cell phones, and road signs. The US Justice Department's Amber Alert Program works with Google, Facebook, and other search engines to display AMBER Alerts.

Over time, other states and communities adopted the AMBER Alert system, and now all As of January 2, 2023, 1,127 children were successfully recovered through the AMBER Alert system and 131 children were rescued because of wireless emergency alerts.

The State of Alaska AMBER Alerts program allows law enforcement to rapidly and widely disseminate pertinent information in the event of a suspected child abduction that meets certain criteria. All 50 U.S. states and several countries now have an AMBER Alert program.

The Alaska AMBER Alert System is a cooperative public service alert to aid in the safe recovery of abducted children. It is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, media, and the public to provide an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases.

The television and radio broadcast Emergency Alert System (EAS), email, social media, and the State’s transportation 511 system is used to distribute a description of the abducted child and suspected abductor.

The goal of the Alaska AMBER Alert system is to provide rapid, widespread information to the public on endangered, abducted children to aid in their safe return.

AMBER Alert Hotline: 866-AKAMBER - (866-252-6237)

To learn more about the Alaska Amber Alert Program and sign up to receive alerts, please visit www.amberalert.alaska.gov