Governor declares "Amber Alert Awareness Day"

In 1999, Oklahoma became the first state to implement a Statewide Amber Alert Program. The Amber Alert program is named after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas.

Since 1999, the Amber Alert Program has expanded to every state in the nation. In cooperation with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, remarkable strides have been made in efforts to safely recover abducted children through the Amber Alert Program, not only in Oklahoma but throughout the nation.

Comprehensive child recovery strategies have been implemented, the focus on child safety has been enhanced and public awareness about missing children has greatly improved. To this end, Jan. 13 has been designated for a public awareness campaign, formally recognizing the day Amber Hagerman was abducted.

Authority: Oklahoma Amber Alert Committee