AMBER Alerts will now be available on a state-by-state basis on Facebook. There are 53 U.S. AMBER Alert pages, one for each state plus Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands and DC. There are also pages for the alerts in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Ontario. You can choose to “like” whichever state’s AMBER Alerts you want to follow, and you’ll get the alerts as they are posted.
This is an excellent use of Facebook and social networks as a whole. And, notes the New York Times, Facebook is already being credited with helping to find a 12 year-old girl who went missing from Roanoke in early December, 2010. Col. Steven Flaherty of the Virginia State Police told the Times: “Social media enabled law enforcement to reach beyond our borders in the search for a missing and endangered 12-year-old girl.” And that was from an alert posted on the Roanoke County police page. Imagine how many people will get and share the warnings now.
We strongly encourage you to “like” the page of the AMBER Alert in your state, so you will get the alerts. Help spread the word to your friends about all the alerts at facebook.com/amberalerts.
