Do you want to learn how to receive Amber Alerts right on your iPhone to stay informed of child abductions in your area? As a concerned citizen and active member of your community, it‘s important to know how these emergency notifications work so you can assist when a child‘s safety is at risk.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain what exactly Amber Alerts are, how to enable them on your iPhone, troubleshoot any issues receiving them, and provide additional resources to stay updated. You‘ll also get key facts and statistics on missing children cases and recovery rates.
Let‘s get started!
What are Amber Alerts?
Amber Alerts are emergency messages issued when a law enforcement agency determines a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger. Named after Amber Hagerman, who was tragically abducted and murdered in 1996, Amber Alerts activate an urgent bulletin via TV, radio, email, text message, and wireless devices.
The alerts provide key details like:
- Description of the missing child
- Suspect information
- Vehicle description
- Location child was last seen
The first few hours after an abduction are most critical to the safe recovery of a missing child. Amber Alerts promptly notify the entire community to "be on the lookout" and report any sightings of the child or suspect.
Overview of How Amber Alerts Work
Amber Alerts are broadcast through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system to participating cellular networks. WEAs deliver critical emergency information to the public on their mobile devices.
For Amber Alerts, authorized alerting authorities send geographically targeted notifications to WEA-capable phones about a serious child abduction case. The alerts are sent automatically to phones located within the designated geographic area where the missing child may be, usually along major transportation routes.
This geo-targeting explains why you may see alerts for nearby cities or counties, but not necessarily the entire state. The goal is to rapidly notify those within the search vicinity.
Now let‘s get your iPhone set up to receive these alerts.
How to Turn Amber Alerts On – Step-by-Step
- Open your iPhone‘s Settings app.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Scroll down and select Government Alerts.
- Under the AMBER Alerts section, toggle the switch ON.
That‘s it! Now your phone is enabled to receive Amber Alerts for your geographic region. Keep reading to troubleshoot any issues and learn how to stay on top of the latest alerts in your area.
Troubleshooting: Why Am I Not Getting Alerts?
If you‘ve enabled Amber Alerts but aren‘t receiving them as expected, here are some things to try:
- Update your iOS – Older iPhone software may not fully support Amber Alerts. Update to the latest iOS version.
- Verify carrier support – Check with your cell provider to confirm they participate in Wireless Emergency Alerts. Not all carriers offer this.
- Reset network settings – Go to General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This refreshes your cellular connection.
- Check location – Alerts are highly targeted to geographic areas where the child was last seen. Verify you are actually located within the specified region.
- Confirm alert frequency – Under Government Alerts, ensure the Alert Frequency is not set to "Never."
- Contact your local emergency management office – They may have insight into any Amber Alert activation issues impacting your area.
- Wait for next test – There may not have been a recent live alert. Watch for weekly test messages to confirm your phone is working.
How Else Can I Stay Updated on Active Amber Alerts?
Beyond wireless alerts, here are some other helpful ways to keep apprised of Amber Alerts in your vicinity:
- amberalert.gov – Provides a map of all active Amber Alerts across the United States.
- State police social media – Follow your state police on Twitter/Facebook. They often share Amber Alert info.
- Google News alerts – Setup custom alerts for "Amber Alert [your state]" to receive updates.
- AMBER Alert apps – Download your state‘s dedicated app, if available.
- Local radio – Tune in while driving, as many stations broadcast alerts.
- Ask law enforcement – Directly contact your local police agency to learn about procedures in your area.
Key Facts and Statistics on Missing Children Cases
Understanding vital statistics around missing children cases and recovery rates underscores the importance of Amber Alerts in protecting children nationwide.
- In 2019, over 24,000 children were reported missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
- However, over 95% of those children were recovered safely within the same year.
- Only 100-150 child abductions by strangers occur annually, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
- Family abductions account for 200,000-250,000 missing children cases per year.
- Amber Alerts were directly responsible for the safe recovery of 1,027 children between 2000-2020, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
- States with Amber Alert programs report higher recovery rates for missing children than states without.
This data highlights how rare stranger abductions are compared to other missing child cases. But when a stranger abduction does occur, Amber Alerts promptly galvanize the community into action during those urgent first few hours.
Real Life Examples – Recent High Profile Cases
To understand the importance of community action, let‘s look at two high-profile missing child cases from Michigan:
The Skelton Brothers
In 2010, Andrew (9), Alexander (7) and Tanner (5) Skelton went missing from Morenci, MI. Their distraught father falsely claimed he gave the boys away to an "underground sanctuary." Despite extensive searches, the Skelton brothers remain missing over a decade later.
Brendan Santo
18-year old Brendan Santo vanished from the Michigan State University campus in October 2021 while visiting friends. As of January 2022, investigators are still following up on tips from across the nation to locate Brendan.
As these cases and others like Jayme Closs show, Amber Alerts allow communities to come together quickly and take action when a child‘s life hangs in the balance.
Let‘s Review the Key Takeaways
- Amber Alerts are emergency messages issued by authorities when a child is abducted and at risk
- Enable Amber Alert notifications in your iPhone settings to receive alerts for your area
- Troubleshoot any issues by updating iOS, checking with your carrier, resetting network settings and more
- Utilize additional resources like government websites and radio alerts to stay vigilant
- Recovery rates show over 95% of missing children are found, highlighting the importance of urgent community response
You now have all the tools to receive Amber Alerts right on your iPhone. Remember, staying informed and vigilant are key to bringing missing children home safely. The first few hours make all the difference!
