A new Amber Alert -- America's Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response -- system formally went into effect today in Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville and the surrounding area.
The collaborative regional system has been in place unofficially for the past month. Previously, the City, County and University each used the Amber Alert system individually. Today's implementation combines their programs under one regional system, said Tom Hanson, executive director of Emergency Communications for the City, County and University.
"We chose to do it as a region so we were able to pool our resources and get the information out quicker and to more people," Hanson said.
The system is intended for children under the age of 18 and requires local law enforcement to establish clear evidence of the missing child's circumstances -- including information concerning the kidnapper's identity and proof that the child is in serious danger and has not runaway.
The alert system is used to quickly notify the local community of serious kidnapping situations.
The Charlottesville region will use Children Alert Foundation software to allow for electronic notification of more than 160 businesses and agencies within a 100-mile radius of the area.
In the case of a qualifying kidnapping, local emergency officials will employ the Amber Alert to provide information about the kidnapping on local television and radio stations, through electronic signs provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation and by posters displayed at heavy-traffic areas in the community.
--Compiled by Kathleen Meyers
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