Origins of AmberIndiana.com

The Indiana Data Center’s involvement with the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County Amber Alert program began with a phone call from Matt Kyle, Chief Engineer at WKJG Channel 33, to Jamie Till, Director of Wireless operations at the Data Center.  Aware of the Indiana Data Center’s ongoing relationship with the City of Fort Wayne, Kyle thought the Data Center might be able to help.

 Kyle noticed that when Fort Wayne had its first Amber Alert, Channel 33 had to send a reporter to the police station to gather information and pick up a picture of the victim.  He asked whether there was anything that could be done to expedite the process of getting high-quality, high-resolution information to the media more quickly. 

With this question as the challenge, the Data Center assembled a problem-solving team headed by its owner, Stan Adams.  A working outline was quickly developed.  As Sharon Finden Martin, from the Data Center Web development team indicated, the functionality we were seeking, “we do every day for our business customers.”

 Initial Meeting

With the concept in hand, the Data Center shared its idea with a City contact, Chris Hertel, purchasing manager for the City.  After the City’s Broadband Initiative RFP was awarded to the Data Center, Hertel had been instrumental in directing the Data Center to the right people facilitating deployment of equipment onto City facilities.  Hertel put us in contact with Steve Smith, Director of City Communications, and with Jim Derose, Director of Allen County Communications.  Those connections led to a post-situation evaluation meeting with regional law enforcement and the media following the initial Amber Alert. 

 Prior to the meeting, the Web site information link concept was outlined to City and County representatives.  Both were instantly interested.  The new recommendation would fill the obvious gaps in the information flow to the media, with the potential to include the general public in the application.

 At the end of the meeting, the Data Center shared the Web concept with the attending media and asked for their input.  They were all receptive to the idea, shared their thoughts and explained the need for integration with the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

 Emergency Alert System (EAS)

In the event of an Amber Alert the Police communications department activates the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  The FCC mandates the system as a “must carry” for radio and TV broadcasters to disperse information in time of weather or civil emergency.

 Although the EAS is a quick method of alerting the public to an incident, it is inefficient.  It provides only an audio (and sometimes limited text) message.  EAS does a good job of telling viewers or listeners that a problem exists, but it provides limited detail, and obviously, cannot alert those not connected to the broadcast media. An avenue to quickly augment basic information to the broadcasters and to contact the “disconnected” public was needed.

 The Key

Most people view the Internet as a library, a way to gather information through Web browsing. The Internet’s most widespread application is basic e-mail.  The fact that the Internet makes us all one big connected data network is overlooked almost entirely.  The Internet not only connects computers, but also virtually every form of electronic personal communications available, including most pagers and cell phones.

 The Solution

The Data Center’s solution, although complex in operation, is a simple one: Give law enforcement a Web interface form that allows them to input detailed information, including high-resolution photos, about an Amber Alert.  This detailed information can then be distributed instantaneously using push technology to those who need and want it.

 Operational Overview

When the Police Communications office submits the form for an alert many things happen.  First, background programs in the Data Center servers take the information and convert it to the opening page of the AmberIndiana.com Web site replacing the normally-displayed information page. Second, the alert information is then e-mailed to the regional media and to any other interested watch groups or individuals who want to be notified. The alert is then broken off and sent via e-mail interface to pagers and cell phones.  This entire operation happens in just a few seconds.

 In addition, any Web site that has a link to our Web site with the AmberIndiana.com logo, will instantly display an alert status logo, instead of the standard link logo. Anyone clicking on that logo will be connected to the alert information.

 A few weeks after the initial meeting, the Data Center was asked to present the completed concept to the Mayor and the media.  In that meeting it was decided the Data Center should proceed to implementation.  A mid-October goal was set for the first release of the program.

 During the development phase of the Web site, Chris Hertel suggested the services of Dan Bush, the City’s Webmaster. Dan designed graphics, layout, and the basic look and feel of the website, and assisted in collecting general informational content. Chris identified Dan as an important resource in helping train communications personnel in the use of the system.

 Phase One

The first phase of the program allows for the Police Communication department to initiate an alert and utilize the AmberIndiana.com system to distribute information to the media and other official agencies via e-mail, fax and pager.  The AmberIndiana.com Web site will be available to anyone. It will carry all alerts and be updated automatically anytime new information is added.

 Phase Two

The second phase, due about 60 days later, allows for participation by the general public.  There will be a form on the Web site that allows anyone who wants to add his or her e-mail address or his or her email-to-pager address, to get alerts and optionally updates, via computer, pager or cell phone.  The second version will also have the ability to push changing icons to others Web sites if they choose to put our link on their site.

 Summary

Our vision for AmberIndiana.com came from a desire to assist law enforcement by enhancing the EAS system already in use within the local broadcast community. AmberIndiana.com provides an avenue for the distribution of detailed information and images beyond the capabilities of the EAS system. This will allow for faster dissemination of detailed information vital to fulfilling the comprehensive effectiveness of an Amber Alert.  Furthermore, through access to Internet-enabled tools, the Data Center will be able to include the general public in the first wave of an Amber Alert.  By utilizing e-mail-to-pager and e-mail-to-cell phone capabilities that already exist, the Data Center will be able to deliver an alert to anyone who wishes to participate. 

 It is our most sincere hope that that AmberIndiana.com is never used.  But in the event of an abduction, we at the Data Center consider it our obligation as concerned citizens to utilize our resources, facilities and capabilities to assist in insuring the best possible outcome to any life-threatening situation.