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AMBER Plan - America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response

Since the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) opened its doors in 1984, its mission has been to protect the most vulnerable members of society, our children, from victimization and exploitation. Standing by that commitment, NCMEC stongly believes every community needs a swift, uniform response when a child is abducted. The AMBER Plan is the answer.

The AMBER Plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies and broadcasters to send out an emergency alert to the public when a child is abducted. Under the AMBER Plan, area radio and television stations interrupt programming to broadcast information about the case using the Emergency Alert System, formerly known as the Emergency Broadcast System. The EAS is typically used for alerting the public to severe weather emergencies. It's important to emphasize that the AMBER Plan is not used for cases that involve runaways or in most parental abduction cases unless the life of the child is in grave danger.

It is hopeful that the AMBER Plan will not only lead to the recovery of abducted children but also act as a deterrent to this type of crime. The goal of the AMBER Plan is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for the child and suspect.

The AMBER Plan was created in 1996 as a powerful legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman who was kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas. As a result of Amber's murder, the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Radio Managers teamed up with local law enforcement in northern Texas and developed this innovative early warning system to help find abducted children. Already the AMBER Plan has assisted in the speedy recovery of a number of children.

Statistics show that the first few hours after a child abduction are critical to the outcome of the case. According to a study by the United States Department of Justice, three quarters of the children who are kidnapped and later found murdered were killed within the first three hours after being taken. That statistic alone should prompt every community to implement the AMBER Plan before a tragedy strikes.