what is amber alert

Amber Alert is a public notification system activated when a child has been abducted and is believed to be in immediate danger. It disseminates information about the missing child, the suspected abductor, and any vehicle involved to the public through multiple channels such as television, radio, social media, highway electronic signs, and wireless alerts, in order to aid in a swift recovery. The program was established in memory of Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl kidnapped in 1996, and operates nationwide in the United States with variations by state or territory.