Cell Phone Alert System To Supplement Delaware’s Amber Alert Program

Dover-The Delaware Amber Alert Program will now be supplemented by the utilization of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system to send Amber Alert notifications to WEA compliant cell phones Statewide. Previously, Amber Alerts were only received on cell phones if the user visited a website and chose to participate. This no longer applies to the new Amber Alert cell phone notification system.

The wireless emergency alert uses a loud tone, similar to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages on radio and television, to notify the public. In addition to the loud audible tone, the system will send a text message with general information specific to the Amber Alert. If you travel outside of Delaware, you will continue to receive alerts issued in the areas you visit as the WEA system broadcasts the alert for mobile devices within the range of the cellular towers in the affected area.

Cell phone users who choose not to receive the Amber Alert can contact their cell phone service provider or turn the alert notification off in the “notifications” settings area of the cellular phone. If the phone is placed in the vibrate mode, the tone will not be heard.

The FCC, FEMA, and the Wireless Association (CTIA) assisted in the development of this new “Commercial Mobile Alert System”, to notify the public of certain emergencies, which included Amber Alerts.

The Amber (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Plan was
originally started in Texas in 1996 after the abduction and murder of nine-year-old, Amber Hagerman. Responding to this tragedy, the Dallas/Fort Worth law
enforcement community and the Association of Radio Managers pioneered the
Amber Plan. The Amber Plan is an early warning system available for use by law
enforcement to alert the public, through the Emergency Alert System, when a child has been abducted and the police believe that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. Under the Plan, radio and television stations immediately broadcast information about the child abduction so that the general public may assist in the child’s recovery.

“Time is critical when it comes to finding abducted children,” said Sergeant Paul G. Shavack, Amber Alert Coordinator for Delaware. “When a child’s life is in danger, spreading the word quickly can often mean the difference between life and death. The public’s awareness and input acts as a powerful force multiplier for law enforcement and helps tremendously in contributing to the successful recovery of missing and abducted children.”

Delaware instituted its Amber Alert Program in January 2003 and to date has issued 8 Amber Alerts. Amber Alerts are issued for abducted children only, and must meet strict criteria and can only be requested by law enforcement. To date there have been 602 children rescued and returned nationwide specifically because of the Amber Alert Program.

For FAQ’s and more information:

FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/commercial-mobile-alert-system

DOJ: http://amberalert.gov/

CTIA: http://ctia.org/consumer_info/safety/index.cfm/AID/12082