By Daniel Gonzalez
Asst. Spread Editor
Waking up at 2 a.m. because of an Amber Alert or weather alerts on a cell phone can be frustrating and annoying at times, but they play a role in saving a life in an emergency or in a natural disaster.
Amber and weather alerts are certified legal warnings created by the United States government in order to warn people of any dangers via nature or criminal, according to the NOAA and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Amber Alerts were created by the U.S. Department of Justice as a voluntary service among different agencies such as law enforcement agencies, public affair agencies, broadcasters and transportation services for all immediate emergency responses, according to a press release by the Department of Justice.
When sending Amber Alerts, using phone companies is the fastest pathway to sending the warning to the public.
“When I used to work for T-Mobile, I was told that every time I had registered a new number for every customer, I had to update a list that the phone company would give to law enforcement for the Amber Alerts,” said Joshua J. Poetoehena, junior graphic design major.
“The phone companies have the legal right to give consumers’ personal information away and filter phone calls and text messages through the National Security Agency risk-word filtration systems once the individual signed up for a contract,” Poetoehena said.
Amber Alerts still has its pros and cons for its various functions.
“The benefits of Amber Alerts are that they bring a rapid response to criminal emergencies like a kidnapping,” said Linda Marts, a situational awareness and earthquake and disaster preparedness instructor.
Amber Alerts have created some disgruntled individuals at certain hours, but the individuals are still fine with receiving the alerts.
“I did not like it that I have received an Amber Alert at two in the morning, it was rather disturbing” said Timothy J. Glaser, graduate business administration major. “However, if it is to save someone’s life, then I am all right with it.”
Regardless of what the situation may be, the Amber Alerts and the weather alerts remain useful because of the possibility in saving lives.
Though the Amber Alert system is not a perfect system, it is still a convenient and sensible form of protection for all individuals, as well as a resourceful application for victims seeking alerts involving life emergencies or during the instance of a natural disaster.
