Kentucky's
AMBER PLAN

In 1996, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was kidnapped and brutally murdered in Arlington, Texas. Amber's tragic death had such a profound impact on her community and throughout northern Texas that it prompted regional law-enforcement agencies and the Dallas/Fort Worth (Texas) Association of Radio managers (ARMS) to develop an innovative emergency alert plan to help recover abducted children. They named it the AMBER plan, and it has since been embraced by communities across the country. Kentucky's statewide AMBER ALERT system is described here. For more information about the AMBER Alert system contact Boone County Emergency Management, the Boone County Sheriff's Department or the Florence Police Department.

The AMBER Plan - America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response - is a key part of the Kentucky Missing Child Project. The AMBER Plan is a program developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide immediate information and assistance in the search for abducted children. Its goal is to instantly alert and involve entire communities to assist in locating abducted children.

The AMBER Plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies and broadcasters to alert the public when a child has been abducted and is believed to be in serious danger. Under the AMBER Plan, area radio and television stations initially interrupt programming to broadcast information about the abducted child using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the emergency system typically used for alerting the public to severe weather emergencies.

• The AMBER Plan is ONLY activated by law enforcement.
• It is ONLY for serious child abduction cases.
• It should NOT be used for runaway or most parental abduction cases unless the circumstance is life threatening to the child.

The public plays an essential role in the success of an AMBER alert. The plan relies on the public to help locate abducted children before it's too late.

In the event that you spot a child, adult, or vehicle fitting the AMBER Alert description, immediately call the telephone number given in the AMBER Alert and provide authorities with as much information as you know.

If you witness a child abduction, quickly contact your local law enforcement agency to report it. Be sure to note any important information such as the physical characteristics of the child and suspect, the make and model of any vehicles involved, as well as license-plate numbers, if possible, and the precise location of the abduction.

Most local radio and television stations will carry the AMBER Alerts. On the radio, you will hear an emergency tone followed by AMBER Alert information. On television, you will see AMBER Alert information scroll across the bottom of your screen. You may also see AMBER ALERTS on electronic road signs.