Emergency Alert: Amber Alerts in Maryland

Protect Our Precious Children: Everything You Need to Know About Maryland Amber Alerts

As a parent, your child's safety is your top priority. In the event of an abduction or disappearance, every second counts. That's where Amber Alerts come in – a crucial tool for swiftly mobilizing the community to locate and recover missing children.

What is an Amber Alert?

An Amber Alert (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) is a public notification system that triggers an immediate response in cases of child abductions or disappearances that meet specific criteria. These criteria include:

• The child is under the age of 18.
• Law enforcement believes the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death.
• Sufficient descriptive information about the child and the abductor or suspect vehicle is available.

How Are Amber Alerts Issued?

In Maryland, Amber Alerts are issued by the Maryland State Police in cooperation with the following agencies:

• Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
• Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
• Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA)
• Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)

These agencies broadcast the alert through various channels, including:

• Television: Broadcast stations interrupt regular programming to display the Amber Alert information.
• Radio: Radio stations broadcast the alert over their airwaves.
• Electronic Message Signs: MDOT and SHA use electronic message signs along highways to display Amber Alert information.
• Social Media: Law enforcement agencies and MEMA share Amber Alerts on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

What to Do When You Receive an Amber Alert

When you receive an Amber Alert, it's crucial to take immediate action:

• Be Vigilant: Pay attention to your surroundings and look for the described child and vehicle.
• Call 911: If you spot the child or vehicle matching the description, call 911 immediately. Provide the dispatcher with as much detail as possible.
• Check Amber Alerts Online: Visit the Amber Alert Maryland website (https://amberalert.md.gov) for the latest updates and detailed information about active Amber Alerts.
• Share the Alert: Forward the Amber Alert information to your friends, family, and anyone you can reach. The more people who are aware, the greater the chances of locating the child.

Maryland's Success with Amber Alerts

Since its inception in 2002, the Amber Alert program in Maryland has been instrumental in recovering missing children. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Amber Alerts have resulted in the safe recovery of over 600 children in the United States.

In Maryland specifically, the program has:

• Recovered 16 missing children
• Issued more than 40 Amber Alerts
• Educated over a million residents about child abduction prevention

How to Stay Informed

To stay up-to-date on Amber Alerts in Maryland, you can:

• Sign up for email notifications at https://amberalert.md.gov
• Follow @amberalertmd on Twitter and MarylandEmergency on Facebook
• Download the MD Ready app (available on Google Play and the App Store)

Additional Resources

• Maryland Amber Alert website: https://amberalert.md.gov
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org
• Maryland State Police: https://mdsp.maryland.gov

Together, let's keep Maryland's children safe!