AMBER Alerts, Ebony Alerts, Silver Alerts, and Ashanti Alerts are official law-enforcement alert systems. Here is what each one means, how they work, and what FIND ME ASAP can help you do.
FIND ME ASAP does not issue official AMBER Alerts, Ebony Alerts, Silver Alerts, Ashanti Alerts, or any law-enforcement alerts. Official alerts are issued by law enforcement or authorized government agencies based on qualifying criteria. Families cannot activate official alerts directly — they must be requested through law enforcement.
FIND ME ASAP helps you organize, generate, and share emergency information — so you can give law enforcement the best possible brief and simultaneously alert your community while waiting for official action.
AMBER Alerts (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) are official, law-enforcement-issued alerts for the most serious child-abduction cases. They are broadcast through television, radio, highway signs, and wireless emergency alerts on mobile phones.
Activation criteria typically include: law enforcement confirmation that an abduction occurred, belief the child is in serious danger, and sufficient descriptive information to enable public assistance. Criteria vary by state and agency.
FIND ME ASAP cannot issue AMBER Alerts. To request consideration for an AMBER Alert, call 911 and ask the responding officers directly. Law enforcement makes the activation decision.
Ebony Alert-style systems are official law-enforcement alert resources created to address visibility gaps for missing Black people and young people of color in jurisdictions where they have been established. They recognize that Black missing persons have historically been underrepresented in alert systems and media coverage.
Availability, activation criteria, and processes vary by state and local jurisdiction. If you are unsure whether your jurisdiction has an Ebony Alert-style system, ask law enforcement when you call 911.
FIND ME ASAP cannot issue Ebony Alerts. FIND ME ASAP can generate clear, detailed, visibility-aware emergency materials — including hairstyle descriptions, skin tone details, and high-contrast flyers — that support the information law enforcement and the community need.
→ Read the Black Child Visibility GuideSilver Alerts (or similar systems) are used in many states for missing seniors, adults with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, or other conditions that create vulnerability. Criteria vary significantly by state — some Silver Alert programs are limited to specific age groups or conditions.
If you are reporting a missing vulnerable adult, call 911 and ask specifically whether a Silver Alert or similar vulnerable adult alert is available in your area.
FIND ME ASAP cannot issue Silver Alerts. FIND ME ASAP can help you generate a vulnerable adult emergency kit, police summary, and public alert specifically designed for adult missing situations.
→ Vulnerable Adult Support ToolsAshanti-style alert systems support missing endangered adults who may not meet AMBER Alert criteria (adults, not children) or Silver Alert criteria (may not have dementia/Alzheimer's). They are designed to fill the gap for adults who are in serious danger from a crime, trafficking, or other threat.
The Ashanti Alert Act was signed at the federal level to encourage a national network, but implementation varies by jurisdiction. Check with local law enforcement about what endangered adult alert options exist in your area.
FIND ME ASAP cannot issue Ashanti Alerts. Call 911 and ask about alert options for endangered adults in your jurisdiction.
The Found Alert is a FIND ME ASAP tool — not an official law-enforcement system. When a missing person is located, the Found Alert generator helps caregivers quickly notify family, helpers, and community that the person is safe, ask people to stop sharing missing alerts, protect privacy, and document found details.
Open Found Alert Generator →