amber alert ticker?

[sardoghauler]

A few clarifications

Thanks to all who are responding



1- Amber alert is NEVER used for anything other than what it's name implies. You will not see any advertising for pruducts.



2- When there is not an active alert the ticker advertises for itself. It says what it does and where to go to get more info about he Amber system



3- I don't belive it possible to have it as a popup only when there is an active alert.



Thank you,

Craig

 

[woodsrat]

DM



good job on getting it on 3D the site is growing.

 

[R-N-R]

Answers to some common questions

America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response



Answers to some common questions:



What is the AMBER Plan?



The AMBER Plan is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies and broadcasters to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. Broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System (EAS), formerly called the Emergency Broadcast System, to air a description of the missing child and suspected abductor. This is the same concept used during severe weather emergencies. The goal of the AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and safe return of the child.



CodeAmber.org was established in August of 2002 to extend the reach of every Amber Alert to the World Wide Web. Please, add the Code Amber Ticker to your site today. You could help save a child's life.



What is an Amber Alert

How does Code Amber work

How could someone not in the immediate area of the Alert help

What can I do to help Code Amber

What should my children know



Code Amber Amber Alert Statistics

The following statistics reflect Amber Alerts carried on the Code Amber Ticker since August, 2002. There have been several additional Amber Alerts that were resolved before the Code Amber system was activated. The alerts that are resolved quickly are the best case scenario. We would like all future Amber Alerts to end quickly with the child found safely and never have to activate the ticker again. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen anytime soon so we will be here for a while. Details of each of the Amber Alerts we have published are available on our Previous Amber Alerts page.



As of June 24, 2005:

Amber Alerts published by Code Amber: 295

Number of children involved: 352

Number of States issuing Alerts: 42

Number of Alerts resolved in a different state: 65

Percentage of Alerts resolved out of state: 22%

Number of Canadian Provinces: 2

Number of children still missing: 12

Number of children never coming home: 16

Number of female children: 212

Number of male children: 140

Number of African American children: 68

Number of Asian children: 4

Number of Caucasian children: 189

Number of Hispanic children: 87

Number of Native American children: 5



Note: Three of the Amber Alerts listed as having been resolved in a different state were actually resolved in Mexico with the help of Mexican authorities. The above statistics do not include currently active Amber Alerts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please read our Ticker Activation Policy: We receive AMBER Alerts from many states and many from local authorities. In the case where there is a state plan and a state agency responsible for the activation, we always check with the state before activating the Code Amber system. If there is no state plan, we activate on the request of the local law enforcement agency. We have had several requests from local authorities to activate our system before they receive approval from their state agency. If the state approves the Alert (we always confirm with the state), then we activate. If the state does not approve the activation of the AMBER Alert, we do not activate our system.



In a situation where an Amber Alert is active and there are no new details or information on the case for five days, we remove the Alert from the Code Amber Ticker and move it to our Active Alerts page. If new information on the case warrants, we will reactivate the ticker for these Amber Alerts.

 

[Hemiless]

I say lets Get-R-Done as it sound like a great idea to me.

 

[HeavyHauler]

The thing that jumps out at me is the low amount of alerts issued in the last 3 years. Only 295??? Since this thread's been posted, I've been paying attention to the Amber Alert on other sites and not once have I seen anything but an advertisement for itself.



Doesn't seem to be very efficient - we all know that more than 352 children have gone missing in the last 3 years.



One other thing I would be concerned about is the actual response it would get from this site. It appears that if there ever is an alert, it would contain a link that you would have to click on to get more information about the child and I would assume that they would then show a picture. I wonder how many people would actually take the time to check out an alert?



Maybe everyone would but I kind of doubt it.

 

[R-N-R]

That is certainly interesting about the amount of alerts... .



Ironically, people's general lack of motivation to "link out" is why I pasted so much text into the message above. I would hope that if it alerted, somebody would raise attention to it in the "Other" forum.



If they posted one child a year and the right one person looked at it resulting in saving the child ... would it be worth it? Would it be worth it if this combination only occured every three years?



HH, you have some very good input, I am glad that you are participating in this thread



Perhaps a trial period would allow for a graceful discontinuation if it does not work out for managment and/or members. A poll would also be interesting, but I would be concerned about backing anybody into a corner that they do not want to be in. The politics here can be rampant, as in most large organizations.

 

[HeavyHauler]

If they posted one child a year and the right one person looked at it resulting in saving the child ... would it be worth it? Would it be worth it if this combination only occured every three years?

That was actually going to be my next statement. If one child was saved, then yes, it would definitely be worth it.



I'm really the only person that has brought up any negative points that might be associated with this and I don't want to offend anybody. I'll be the first to admit that kids are a soft spot for me even though I don't have any.



I'm just wondering if this is really an effective tool. Those figures kind of make me wonder. I would speculate that if anyone was actually against this, that they probably wouldn't make it known because this topic has already received nearly 100% positive feedback.



R-N-R - great research you have done and hopefully that will clear up any questions that people may have about the service itself.

 

[NateE]

It is possible to hide the banner if desired

I think this would be a good idea. Can the programming be tweaked to come up when there is only an amber alert or is it popping up all the time. If it comes up all the time you would eventually stop paying attention. But with all the members and guest that we have online in a days time this could really work here.

The programming can be easily tweaked. I did a quick test and it seems to be working fine. It is a bit of a hack (read as "not perfect"), since there are limitations around their source code, plus it has a Copyright, so you don't want to infringe on that.



That said, I just wanted to make it clear that it is possible to hide the banner when there is no alert, but to show it when there is one. In my programming and website experience, I think that it is probably a good idea to only show "alert" type banners and popups when they are needed, otherwise they tend to get easily ignored or overlooked (even if the color changes). However an organization like codeamber.org does deserve to be supported and recognized (hence the self-advertising banner), so I might suggest providing a link to their site elsewhere - if you choose to use a hidden banner. Just my 2 cents.



You can view my quick and dirty example here: http://www.rezzed.com/examples/codeamber/



If you need/want help making changes or designing stuff like this, just let me know. I will be glad to pitch in.

 

[Babyfat]

you can also go here if you have nextel http://nextelonline.nextel.com/en/about/community/amber_alerts.shtml

and have it sent to your phone.

i am

 

[R-N-R]

I'm really the only person that has brought up any negative points that might be associated with this and I don't want to offend anybody. I'll be the first to admit that kids are a soft spot for me even though I don't have any.

A good decision takes into account all aspects, positive and negative. I appreciate you bringing up the tough questions.

 

[todt061458]

I like the idea of a AMBER alert! Go for it. Question would it be on every page of every post or just on top of the home page?









































EDITED for spelling

 

[todt061458]

Here is a web site that has a AMBER ALERT ticker on the main page www.truck.net It is a popup and on the forum pages it runs all the time click on the roundtable button they also just got a blog site really nice addition could we get a blog site? Just a thought!

 

[bigkid59]

The original idea for the Amber Alert was good and should be supported.



That being said, there are problems now with misuse of the system. The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper just this morning has an article about the system being misused. I have not read the entire article, but just a quick glance shows that some authorities are over reacting to situations. The article starts out reporting an alert being used for a child in Arkansas that was lost in the woods, even though there was no indication of an abduction. Another use was for an alert being issued for a child because his backpack was found in a playground.



Please don't get me wrong and start flaming me. I wholeheartedly support the system, but if it gets misused like this then people will begin to ignore it. Remember the old adage about not "crying wolf" too often or you will eventually cause people to not pay attention to your cries.



Let's hope that the authorities practice good judgement in issuing these alerts and this will make the system work as intended. As I said, I do support the system and believe that it can and will make a difference, but we all need to know that any information we get from the system is accurate. If not then we do not need to expect a high level of public support for it.



As I said, please don't flame me for only passing along information from the newspaper. I am only the messenger trying to inform you of possible problems that need addressing. Let's get the bugs worked out and have a valuable tool for helping these victims.

 

[R-N-R]

Amber Alert Issued for Two Arizona Children

Amber Alert Issued for Two Arizona Children

Posted: Monday July 11 10:14 AM CT



The Maricopa County Sheriff's office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety issued the AMBER Alert after the children's grand parents and an uncle were found slain and the children were apparently kidnapped.



Bryan Cervantes is described as being a 18 month old Hispanic male, black hair, unknown eyes, 2'5". He was last seen wearing an orange t shirt with airplane on it and blue shorts.



Jennifer Cervantes is described as being a 3 year old Hispanic female, black hair, 3'4". She was last seen wearing a pink t shirt with "B" on it and flowered jeans.



The suspect, Rodrigo Cervantes-Zavala. is described as being a 34 year old male, Hispanic with black-graying hair, approximately 170 lbs.



The white 1998 Ford F-150 Pick Up with Arizona license plate number 866NMZ has been located.



The Green 1993 Buick 4D Arizona license plate number 709SDW is the remaining suspect vehicle.



Anyone with information is asked to call the Maricopa County Sheriff's office at 602-876-1011 or dial 911.

 

[GFritsch]

If the TRD members helped recover 1 child it would be worth the very minor inconvenience. If there is room for the large advertising banner on the top of each page there is certainly room for this.



Great Idea. When do we start?



Greg

 

[HeavyHauler]

I really don't see how this service could be of much use if they don't even include pictures of the victims with their information. At first, I was under the impression that they did include pictures of the children and maybe a sketch or something of a suspect if there was one.



I run into Hispanic children all the time and I certainly wouldn't be able to pick one out from their very generic description. "Hispanic male, black hair, dark complexion" - well that pretty much sums up the entire race.



What gives?

 

[sardoghauler]

Amber alert has been most successful by broadcasting a description of the car children are being transported in. that's why i think we could be so helpful as we are on the road quite a bit. As for alert numbers not adding up to total national abductions, alerts are only supposed to be issued (some slip through) when there is specific information such as abductor name or vehicle description where the public can be highly effective just by being eyes on the road. Here in Oregon a preteen boy noticed a vehicle he had seen on a highway Amber alert sign, told his father, and the kid was saved before his highly disturbed father could kill them both. The system works, it's not perfect, but it does save lives. The previous example of yesterdays Arizona alert cited a specific vehicle and plate number to on the lookout for.

"The Green 1993 Buick 4D Arizona license plate number 709SDW is the remaining suspect vehicle. "



Hoe much moe specific ccan it get. Find the car, probably find the kids. Had we known what car Dylan and Shasta Groene were taken away in maybe it would be different now.

 

[sardoghauler]

Any conclusion?

Any decision on this either way. It seems as if we had a very positive response witha few people voicing concerns over how much space it would take. Overall I thought the consensus was a go.

 

[DieselMinded]

when I was in INDY a amber alert hit and it broadcasted on all channels to go to channel "WHATEVER" when going to that channel it had details about the amber alert



Ive never seen anything like that on my TV in Ohio



Good Job INdy Guys



DM

 

[GFritsch]

Any decision on this either way. It seems as if we had a very positive response witha few people voicing concerns over how much space it would take. Overall I thought the consensus was a go.

Start a poll to get members views. Perhaps that would help to convince the powers that be.



Greg