Amber Alert IDs At Fall Fair—

When A Child Goes Missing, Every Minute Counts In Their Safe Recovery

An AMBER Alert child identification event will be held at Reed Intermediate School from 10 am until 3 pm on Saturday, October 20. The event, held in conjunction with the Newtown United Methodist Church’s Fall Arts and Crafts Fair, will be managed by the Rotary Club of Danbury and sponsored by William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty of Newtown.

The AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert system was created in 1996 as a legacy to Amber Hagerman, age 9, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle and found murdered. The program is a voluntary program for all children under the age of 18. A parent/guardian of a child will receive one free wallet sized card with an AMBER ID number, essential ID information including height, weight, color of hair and eyes, any special birth marks, birth date and a colored picture of the child. Additional cards are available for $2.

The AMBER Alert Child ID Card ensures both the privacy and security of the information obtained about the child. The information is encrypted and sent to a secure National AMBER Alert data base. No information such as the child’s name, address, or even their school is included on the card for safety reasons.

In the event the child is reported missing, a rapid response is vital. When a call goes to 911, law enforcement will be able to retrieve the information by calling the AMBER Alert system phone number and providing the AMBER Alert ID number. The information can then be broadcast by radio, television, and roadway signs. The person reporting the missing child will not have to remember the details as to eye color or special birthmarks during this traumatic moment.

For additional information visit www.danburyrotary.org, www.AmberChildID.org or call Bob Vetter at 748-1105.