Amber Alert Hits Cell Phones in NJ

Many residents were alarmed this my morning by an Amber Alert on their phone for the first time.

Luckily the two children were found safe and sound.

I have AT&T and this was the first time I got an amber alert on my phone, and apparently this is not a new thing.

As of January 1, 2013, AMBER Alerts™ are now automatically sent through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program to millions of cell phone users. If you have a WEA-enabled phone, you are automatically enrolled for the three alerts: President, Imminent Threat and AMBER Alerts. The addition of AMBER Alerts to this notification system is a result of a partnership between CTIA and the wireless industry, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This is a great idea and if it was designed to get our attention, mission accomplished. The only problem is that I got my alert at about 9 a.m., after the children had been found. Lots of people got the alert as early as 6:45.

TELL US!

Did you get the alert on your cell, and when?

Is this the first time you got a mobile Amber Alert?