Utah To Test AMBER Alert System on Thursday At 4 PM

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Utah Department of Public Safety will conduct a statewide test of the AMBER Alert system on Thursday from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. Officials are urging residents not to panic as mobile phones, televisions, radios, and highway message boards will issue a test alert.

The purpose of this test is to verify recent upgrades to the AMBER Alert system and ensure it meets current national alerting standards. According to the department, the test alerts will clearly indicate that they are part of a drill and do not require any action from the recipients.

“The Amber Alert system is a critical tool for quickly notifying the public when a child is abducted. These upgrades will ensure that alerts are delivered efficiently and effectively,” said Jason Ricks, Director of the Bureau of Criminal Identification. “Testing is essential to ensure the system operates as expected in a real emergency.”

The AMBER Alert system originated in 1996 in response to the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Rene Hagerman in Texas. In Utah, the system formerly known as the Rachael Alert was established after the kidnapping of 3-year-old Rachael Runyan in 1982. It was officially renamed to align with the national system in 2003.

Elaine Runyan, mother of Rachael, reflects on the emotional significance of the AMBER Alert system. “It takes all of us, right? It takes the community, it takes a village, it takes a state because you don’t know where they’re going,” she said.

Runyan recalled the painful memory of her daughter’s abduction, stating, “It was almost a relief, you know, that someone wasn’t hurting her anymore” when Rachael’s body was finally discovered. Despite the tragedy, she finds comfort in knowing the AMBER Alert system has successfully helped in recovering other missing children.

Last week, two children were safely located thanks to an AMBER Alert issued after they were allegedly taken by their father in Riverdale. Mandy Biesigner, the Field Services Supervisor for the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification, emphasized the importance of public awareness and cooperation. “The purpose of the AMBER Alert is to call on the public to assist in that recovery, the safe recovery of a child,” she explained.

The department has advised that there is no need to contact law enforcement during the test, and residents should simply ensure they receive the AMBER Alert notification on their devices. The alert will also be displayed on traffic signs throughout the state as part of the drill.