COLUMBUS – Updated technology now allows Ohioans to get more information on Amber Alerts sent via smartphone.
Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are broadcast to enabled mobile devices, are now capable of transmitting 360-character text messages in addition to the traditional 90-character messages, a change brought about by increased technology by wireless carriers and mobile device manufacturers, Lt. Nathan Dennis of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
Traditional 90-character messages are limited to including basic vehicle information and notification for device users to check local media outlets for additional details.
The increase in characters allows public safety officials to provide more in-depth details on the suspect, victim, vehicle, and other information and also displays a link to Ohio’s AMBER Alert website or other social media for more information, Dennis said.
The website contains all available information regarding the AMBER Alert as well as any photos.
AMBER Alert: Columbus OH. 2008 red 4 door Honda Civic OH ABC1234. Victim, 3, white male, brown hair, blue shirt, blue shorts. Suspect, John Doe, 41, white male, blonde hair, red shirt, jeans. Last seen at 1234 Main Street, Columbus. If you see the child, suspect or vehicle, please call 911 or 1-877-AMBER-OH. https://www.ohioamberplan.org -sample 360-character Amber Alert provided by the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Some older devices or certain carriers may only allow devices to receive 90-character messages, so the patrol will issue both a 90-character message and a 360-character message, Dennis said.
Devices that are not capable of receiving the longer messages will automatically receive the 90-character message as they have in the past so all Ohioans who have enabled their devices to receive WEAs will still be notified of the Amber Alert in their area.
Amber Alerts are an emergency response system of notifications that spreads information about an abducted child through a variety of dissemination methods, including broadcast media, mobile devices and digital highway message boards.