amber alert
Missing child bulletin
An Amber Alert is an emergency broadcast system that disseminates information about abducted children to the public.
Named after Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old murder victim, the alerts appear on highway signs, television, radio, and phones: My phone buzzed with an Amber Alert about a missing toddler.
The system operates throughout North America.
Transmitted media signal
- notificationFormal notice given
- missingNot present, whereabouts unknown
- childPerson before puberty
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
kidnapping · emergency · siren · dispatch · urgent · time-sensitive · immediate · critical
Act of seeking
- law enforcementUpholding legal codes
- policeCivil law enforcement
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- volunteersUnpaid willing workers
cooperation · help · assistance · recovery · tip line · hotline · sighting · description
Available to all
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- mediaInformation distribution channels
- newsReports of recent events
- bulletinBrief public announcement
update · report · information · distribution · network · broadcasting · social media · television
Careful, sustained attention
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- observanceKeeping of customs
- lookoutWatcher or vista point
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
community · citizens · neighbors · attentiveness · reporting · awareness · caution · preparedness
broadcast
Transmitted media signal
- notificationFormal notice given
- missingNot present, whereabouts unknown
- childPerson before puberty
abduction · kidnapping · emergency · siren · dispatch · urgent · time-sensitive · immediate · critical · rapid
search
Act of seeking
- law enforcementUpholding legal codes
- policeCivil law enforcement
- investigationFormal examination of facts
volunteers · cooperation · help · assistance · recovery · tip line · hotline · sighting · description · vehicle
public
Available to all
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- mediaInformation distribution channels
- newsReports of recent events
bulletin · update · report · information · distribution · network · broadcasting · social media · television · radio
watchfulness
Careful, sustained attention
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- observanceKeeping of customs
- lookoutWatcher or vista point
monitoring · community · citizens · neighbors · attentiveness · reporting · awareness · caution · preparedness · engagement
- alertsalarm, warning, notification, push notifications, email alerts
- phone alertsincoming call, missed call, text message, notification, alarm
- safety alertswarning sign, caution sign, danger sign, hazard sign, warning light
- warningswarning, caution, danger, warning sign, warning label
- Advance Noticeswarning, reminder, heads up, forewarning, advisory
- alert levelsDEFCON, elevated, guarded, low, moderate
amber alertcase closed
Matter finally resolved
happy ending · false alarm · all clear · reunion · recovery
amber alertweather warning
Notice of dangerous conditions
tornado warning · severe weather alert · flood warning · hurricane warning · wildfire alert