An Amber Alert text sent to cell phones across Pennsylvania caused confusion Monday night, and a fair amount of calls to TV stations as well.
At issue is a new text alert system that is part of IPAWS, the Integrated Public Advanced Warning System.
The goal of the new system is to integrate modern technology, like cell phones, for public announcements like Amber Alerts, weather situations and even presidential announcements.
Five year old Nialla Robinson became missing when a woman who was not her mother signed her out of a Philadelphia public school.
After hours of searching by police emergency managers decided to activate the statewide system which now includes text messages.
But because the message did not specify that the missing girl was from Philadelphia, concerned callers across the state wanted to know why local television stations weren't covering the search more directly.
Erie County Public Safety Director Todd Geers told us that it is his hope that one day cell phones can help send information and even pictures directly to responding emergency and law enforcement officers.
President George Bush signed an order requiring modern upgrades to how the government communicates with the public in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
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