BNI Newswire

MONTGOMERY – Gov. Don Siegelman announced the formation of a partnership that will create a version of the AMBER Alert Plan. Last week the AMBER Alert saved the lives of two teenage girls abducted and victimized by a sexual predator in California.

The partnership created was between the state of Alabama and the Alabama Broadcasters Association.

"Just the thought of a child abduction is every parent’s worst nightmare, a nightmare that becomes a tragic reality all too often," Siegelman said. "Time is of the essence in all child abduction cases. Alabama’s new AMBER Alert plan could mean the difference between life and death for an abducted child."

According to a release from Siegelman’s office, the AMBER plan, which stands for America’s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response, is an immediate emergency notification system for informing the general public about child abductions. The notifications provide law enforcement and the public with important descriptive details about the abduction, such as physical descriptions of the abductor, the victim and any vehicle involved, as well as information about how the public can help law enforcement save the child.

For AMBER Alerts, broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in the same way it is used during notification for severe weather emergencies.

Once law enforcement officials have been notified of and confirmed a child abduction, they will assess whether the circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in serious danger of bodily harm or death. If enough descriptive information is available about the child, the suspect and/or any vehicles, radio and television AMBER Alerts will be issued using the EAS.