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From U.S. Newswire Releases:
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has now been charged with establishing and operating the new National Emergency Child Locator Center.
The center, created by legislation signed into law by President Bush this week, will help expedite reunification of children with their families during major disasters.
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, sponsored the legislation, along with Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO).
"Americans are rightfully asking if we are better prepared for the next disaster, whether it is a hurricane, an epidemic disease, or a terrorist attack," said Senator Collins.
"Creation of the National Emergency Child Locator Center signifies a critical first step toward a stronger, more effective national plan for responding to a crisis and helping to reunite children with their loved ones."
-- Refer reports of displaced adults to the Attorney General's designated authority and the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System.
"NCMEC is pleased to be part of the federal government's newly-structured disaster response plan, and brings decades of experience and expertise in the missing children arena," said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC.
"As soon as Hurricane Katrina made landfall, our team worked non-stop with searching families, law enforcement, and other organizations across the country to help resolve the thousands of missing children reported to us," added Allen.
At the request of the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005, NCMEC set up a national missing persons hotline and website within 24 hours of Hurricane Katrina's devastating blow to the Gulf coast.
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Posted on October 8, 2006 08:21 PM
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