Text messaging technology has done more than simply improve our social communications. It has also been a critical factor in improving our emergency communications during a crisis. Mass text messaging has proven to be an effective emergency notification system when word needs to be spread quickly. During natural disasters, terrorist attacks, fires, and workplace or school shootings, sending a text message alert can save lives.

This kind of emergency notification system is also an effective way to issue an AMBER alert to help recover a missing child. Since January 1, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and CTIA have sent AMBER alerts through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program. Through this program, millions of cell phone users with WEA-enabled devices immediately receive alerts regarding missing children, imminent threats, and presidential alerts.

This mass alert system allows the WEA to send out texts to a targeted region so that people in the affected area will receive notification. For instance, if there is a missing child in Chicago, everyone with a WEA-capable phone in the city and surrounding areas would likely receive an AMBER alert.

The first example of an AMBER alert sent out via the nationwide mass text alert system was received by Minneapolis, Minnesota residents in 2013. Within minutes, a teenager who had received the alert recognized the vehicle from the description in the text and called the authorities. Police safely rescued the kidnapped infant shortly after.

Several months later, a teenager went missing in California. An AMBER alert was sent out via text message to residents in California and neighboring states. The teen was rescued a few days later outside of Boise, Idaho.

These two stories are just a few examples of how an emergency notification system can save lives during a crisis when time is of the essence. Text message alerts have been used by authorities all across the country, the most notable recent occurrence happening during the bombings in the Chelsea district of New York. Immediately following the incident, the WEA sent out an alert that listed the name of the suspect, his age, and his gender. The suspect was eventually caught and charged with five counts of attempted murder.