NEW ORLEANS, LA — New Orleans City Council Vice President Helena Moreno filed legislation to establish a new local safety alert system designed to locate and aid missing vulnerable children and adults. While AMBER Alerts and Silver Alerts are important tools, they are limited to specific cases, leaving out many at-risk individuals, including children who don’t meet AMBER criteria and adults of all ages with cognitive, developmental, or physical challenges. The proposed local alert program would fill those gaps, ensuring swift public notification when such an individual is reported missing in Orleans Parish. Alerts would be distributed through the City’s NOLA Ready platform or a comparable system, operating 24/7.

Vice President Moreno authored the legislation in consultation and partnership with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) and the Orleans Parish Communications District (OPCD).

“This is about making sure every vulnerable person in our community has the protection they deserve,” said City Council Vice President Moreno. “When a loved one goes missing, families shouldn’t be told they don’t qualify for an alert. Every second matters, and this program will help bring people home safely.”

The program is required to have set definitions for a missing child, senior, or vulnerable adult; standardized activation criteria; minimum alert content to include critical details such as physical descriptions, circumstances of disappearance and last known location, and any medical or safety considerations with a link to a website containing complete details and updates; and guidelines ensuring consistency and non-interference with existing Amber Alert and Silver Alert programs. Once launched, NOPD will publish clear guidance so residents know how alerts work and how they can help.

The legislation can be reviewed here