AMBER Alerts
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AMBER Alerts are activated in the most serious child-abduction cases. The latest alerts will appear here.
Active AMBER Alerts
Notice: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® certifies the posters on this site only if they contain the NCMEC logo and the 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) number. All other posters are the responsibility of the agency whose logo appears on the poster.
AMBER Alerts are usually resolved within hours. However, there are still some children who were featured in AMBER Alerts who are still missing. These children and their most up to date poster can be found below.
Overview
AMBER Alerts are activated in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing child. These alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices. The AMBER Alert system is being used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 27 other countries.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs has tasked the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children with managing the AMBER Alert Secondary Distribution Program. When law enforcement issues an AMBER Alert, NCMEC is notified and re-distributes the alert to the appropriate secondary distributors.
As of December 31, 2023: at least 1,200 children have been recovered due to AMBER Alerts. 180 are due to WEA.
How do I receive AMBER Alerts?
AMBER Alerts are broadcast through radio, television, road signs, and the network of secondary distributors, which include digital signage, hotel chains, internet service providers, apps, and other technology. As of 2013, AMBER Alerts are also delivered to wireless phones through the Wireless Emergency Alerts program (WEA).
Most people will see AMBER Alerts directly from primary distribution and secondary distributors and do not require any additional steps. You may also be notified of an AMBER Alert in the following ways:
On Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/AMBERAlert and “Like” the page to receive AMBER Alerts in your newsfeed. Facebook also automatically notifies users near the location of an AMBER Alert.
On Instagram: If an AMBER Alert is activated by law enforcement and you are in the designated search area, the alert will appear in your Instagram feed.
On Twitter: Follow @AMBERAlert to receive rapid AMBER Alert notifications on your Twitter feed and share the alert with your followers.
International AMBER Alert Programs
Countries around the world followed the success of AMBER Alerts in the U.S. and created similar rapid alert systems. Each country adapted the system to fit its own needs and requirements but the goal remains the same — use the eyes and ears of the public to help law enforcement recover a child who is in immediate danger.
More information can be found at https://www.icmec.org/global-missing-childrens-center/child-alerts/
Additional Information
State | Contact | |
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Alabama | Alabama State Bureau of Investigations 1-800-228-7688 |
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Alaska | Lt. Benjamin Endres Fairbanks Dispatch Center 907-451-5100 |
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Arizona | Arizona Department of Public Safety 602-223-2212 |
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Arkansas | Captain Stacie Rhoads Arkansas State Police 501-618-8100 |
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California | Captain Melissa Kittell California Highway Patrol 1-800-TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247) |
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Colorado | Kirby Lewis Colorado Bureau of Investigation 303-239-4211 |
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Connecticut | Sgt. Chris Meier and Sgt. Sean Mahar Connecticut State Police 860-685-8190 |
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Delaware | Sgt. India Sturgis Delaware State Police Communications 302-739-5901 |
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District of Columbia | Lt. Andrew Dawidowicz Metropolitan Police Department 202-727-9099 |
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Florida | Rachel Salus Florida Department of Law Enforcement Missing Children Information Clearinghouse 1-888-356-4774 |
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Georgia | ASAC Lisa Vorrasi Georgia Bureau of Investigation 404-244-2600 |
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Hawaii | Missing Child Center-Hawaii Department of the Attorney General 808-753-9797 hawaiimissingkids@hawaii.gov |
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Idaho | Tanea Parmenter Idaho State Police 208-884-7000 |
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Illinois | Craig Burge Illinois State Police 1-800-843-5763 missing@isp.state.il.us |
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Indiana | Dir. Angela Meacham Indiana State Police 1-800-831-8953 MissingChildren@isp.IN.gov |
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Iowa | Captain Richard Pierce Iowa State Patrol Communications 515-323-4360 |
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Kansas | Ryan Boyer Kansas Bureau of Investigation 785-296-8262 1-800-KS CRIME |
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Kentucky | Lt. Kenneth Sandusky Kentucky State Police 502-564-0838 |
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Louisiana | Lt. Michelle King Louisiana Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children 225-925-6536 or 6636 |
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Maine | Lt. Randall Keaton Maine State Police 207-624-7076 |
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Maryland | Sgt. Debbie Flory Maryland State Police 410-653-4200 |
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Massachusetts | Detective Mark Cyr Massachusetts State Police 508-820-2121 |
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Michigan | Michigan State Police 1-800-525-5555 517-241-8000 |
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Minnesota | Janelle Twardowski Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 651-793-7000 |
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Mississippi | Lt. Willard Holifield Mississippi Highway Patrol 601-987-1212 or 1530 |
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Missouri | Captain Corey Schoenberg Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop F 573-751-1000 |
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Montana | Brian Frost Montana Department of Justice 406-444-2800 |
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Nebraska | Lt. Tim Arnold Nebraska State Patrol 308-385-6000 |
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Nevada | Nevada Highway Patrol 775-687-0400 |
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New Hampshire | Sgt. Kelly Healy New Hampshire State Police 603-271-3636 |
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New Jersey | DSG Erin Micciulla New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit 609-963-6900 |
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New Mexico | Lt. Mark Soriano New Mexico State Police 505-795-2793 |
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New York | Senior Investigator Henry Abeel New York State Police NYSP Special Victims Unit (The NYS AMBER Alert Coordinator’s Office) 518-457-6811 NYSPSVU@troopers.ny.gov |
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North Carolina | Morrisa Ahl-Waters North Carolina Center for Missing Persons 1-800-522-5437 |
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North Dakota | Sgt. Wade Kadrmas North Dakota State Police 701-328-9921 |
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Ohio | S/Lt. Ron Raines Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center 614-466-2660 |
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Oklahoma | Jason Matheson Oklahoma Highway Patrol Communications Center 405-425-2231 |
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Oregon | Sean Joyce Oregon State Police Communications Center 503-375-3555 |
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Pennsylvania | Cpl. Todd McCurdy Pennsylvania State Police 717-346-5430 |
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Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Police Department 787-782-9006 |
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Rhode Island | Sgt. Simon Liu Rhode Island State Police 401-444-1000 |
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South Carolina | Alex Schelble South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) 803-737-9000 |
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South Dakota | Bonnie Feller Hagen Division of Criminal Intelligence Analyst 605-773-7281 Pierre State Radio 605-773-3536 |
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Tennessee | Shelly Smitherman Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 615-744-4000 |
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Texas | Ben Patterson Texas Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Toll-Free Line: (800) 346-3243 |
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Utah | Ofa Vaisima and Alex Martinez Utah Department of Public Safety 801-652-6287 |
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Vermont | Lt. Shawn Loan Vermont State Police 802-875-6110 |
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Virginia | First Sgt. Mike Debois Virginia State Police – Missing Children’s Clearinghouse 804-674 2026 |
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U.S.Virgin Islands | U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department 340-772-9111 |
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Washington | Carri Gordon Washington State Patrol 360-704-2404 |
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West Virginia | Sgt. James Kozik West Virginia State Police 304-746-2158 |
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Wisconsin | Melissa Marchant Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children 608-266-1671 |
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Wyoming | Crystal McGuire Wyoming Highway Patrol 307-777-4237 |
For reports beyond this date range, please visit https://www.amberalert.gov/statistics.htm
What happens when an AMBER Alert is received?
o AMBER Alert broadcasts have a unique audible signal and vibration. It is intended to indicate the urgency of the message and make the alert accessible to people with hearing or vision-related disabilities. The message will contain a limited number of characters and provide basic information.
o In the case of an AMBER Alert, the message would indicate that an AMBER Alert has been issued for your area and, relevant information about the missing child, and if possible, the abductor and/or vehicle used in the abduction.
How do AMBER Alerts work?
o Once law enforcement has been notified about an abducted child, they will decide whether or not to issue an AMBER Alert based on their AMBER Alert program's criteria. They will provide the geographic area where the alert should be issued as well as any available information about the child, abductor, or suspected vehicle used in the abduction.
o Once issued, the alerts are distributed by broadcasters and transportation agencies. They are also sent to NCMEC which redistribute the alerts to a network of secondary distributors that includes internet service providers, digital billboards, truckers, and others.
How are AMBER Alerts distributed to cell phones?
o AMBER Alerts are distributed to cell phones as part of the AMBER Alert program's secondary distribution through the Wireless Emergency Alert program (WEA).
What is the Wireless Emergency Alert program?
o The Wireless Emergency Alert program is operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It distributes notifications from authorized federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies that alert customers with capable devices of imminent threats to safety or an emergency situation. The messages are intended as a supplement to the existing Emergency Alert System, which broadcasts alerts over radio and television.
o In addition to AMBER Alerts, the program includes National Weather Service, Presidential, and imminent threat alerts. If you own a capable mobile device, you will automatically receive these alerts when you are in the geographic area where an alert has been issued.
o Because the alerts are sent on a special wireless carrier channel called Cell Broadcast they are not affected by congestion on the voice or SMS text channels. The alerts are transmitted simultaneously to all mobile devices within range of the cellular carrier towers in the affected area. The system does not need to know your mobile number and it does not track your whereabouts; it simply broadcasts the alert, and any mobile devices that can "hear" the alert will display it to the user.
Will wireless customers be charged for Wireless Emergency Alert messages?
o No. Wireless customers will not be charged for the receipt of these messages.
How do I know if my device is Wireless Emergency Alert capable?
o To determine if your mobile device is capable of receiving the alerts, visit www.ctia.org/wea and look for a link for your wireless service provider where you will find a list of mobile devices that will receive the alerts on their network. Also, be sure to ask for a capable device the next time you acquire a new mobile device.
o Look for this symbol on the box
Is it possible to adjust the volume of the Wireless Emergency Alert audible signal?
o If a wireless device is set to vibrate only, users will not hear the audible signal from a Wireless Emergency Alert message. For additional information about adjusting the volume of a specific device or opting out of receiving the alerts, wireless customers should contact their individual wireless service providers.
Where can I go to receive more information if I receive an AMBER Alert on my cell phone?
o If you are notified through a Wireless Emergency Alert message that there is an AMBER Alert in your area, you can consult local media or visit www.missingkids.org/AMBER or www.amberalert.gov for more detail about the AMBER Alert.