VIDALIA — Two missing children were located Friday afternoon after Vidalia police activated an emergency telephone calling system.

When the mothers of the children, who were 11 and 12, reported that their children did not get off the school bus when they were expected, the police activated the automatic calling system that notified residents in the local area, Police Chief Ronnie G. “Tapper” Hendricks said.

Within 15 minutes, a resident received a call from the program and was able to inform the police where the children were, Hendricks said.

The program is funded by the federal government, and is free to local law enforcement, he said.

“This is the first time we have had to use it, and I had hoped that we never would have to, but it worked,” Hendricks said.