Training: Amber Alert

“Amber Alert” is a term used for getting out information regarding child abductions. The name comes from a child named Amber who was abducted and killed. This event and others like it triggered the movement to get some kind of “child abduction Alert” in place. It started in Texas in 1996 and is now in place in 27 states. 40 rescues have been credited to the Amber program. Nebraska is one of those 27 states. Iowa is nearing completion on its plan.

National research has shown that there is about a 30 minute window where the chances of rescue are optimal. After that time, the percentages drop off rapidly. Time is the critical element. There are some legal issues involved and the information regarding juveniles is treated differently than info regarding adults. There are more cautions with information regarding juveniles.

The Alert information contains mostly a description of the vehicle including make, model, color and what is know about it as well as information on the child involved (clothing color, age, gender, etc.). The idea is to activate as many eyes out there on the roadways as possible.

This morning, there was an Amber alert in the Metro area. It happened in Council Bluffs. It was only five minutes from the time that the call was received at 911 in the Council Bluffs Center that information was broadcast on State teletype systems which go to every law enforcement agency in the state. Information was also gotten to the media, Nebraska and Omaha law enforcement entities.

You might think that 5 minutes is a long time and it is in situations like these. But the information has to be authenticated to be sure that this is a real event. The source has to be credible. A sworn officer usually meets with those immediately involved, gets the information and files the report. No time was lost in this process this morning. 5 minutes is good for all that to happen.

I checked with some of those connected with these Amber alerts this morning. Once the information hits the media, radio and TV, it is something that could be put out on the repeater for those who might be mobile and could be another set of eyes out there. The Alert information was everywhere. An announcement was made on the .94 repeater. The information was on the Interstate Highway programmable signs. Lotto tickets printed out the warning information at the top of the ticket.

It is possible that you will hear alerts such as these over the NOAA radios as they are increasingly seen as “multi-hazard warning” points. So far, most of us associate them with only weather related alerts. But get used to turning to them for information when certain emergency situations exist such as hazardous spills that could mean evacuation for a particular area, etc. Your usual fire and police calls usually will not be topics that you will hear on “all hazard” NOAA radio.

Now 5 minutes is a good response time, and the story today had a happy ending. Both child and vehicle were located. The child was unharmed. They suspect that whoever took the vehicle didn’t realize there was a child involved and probably got the word on the alert and decided to abandon the venture. But that is just conjecture. Hijacking a vehicle is one crime, but abducting a child and crossing state lines is compounding the crime.

If I was in the EOC when that happened this morning, I would have gotten on the repeater and made the announcement once it had hit the media. Don’t wait for me, though. Once the information is out, it is safe to put it out over the repeater. The more eyes out there the better.

Amber Alerts will be infrequent as they should be, but remember, time is the critical element in these events. You can help spread the word. All you can do is to get the necessary information out and make sure that it is accurate.

Are there any questions on any of this? Please give your call sign.