Blue Alert Public Safety in Texas is a state-wide public safety notification system designed to rapidly disseminate information to the public about suspects wanted for violent crimes related to law enforcement.
The system is formally known as the Officer Kevin Will Emergency Alert System and is designed to help law enforcement apprehend suspects wanted for killing, seriously injuring or making an immediate threat against a law enforcement officer.
When activated, the system will send out an alert via the Emergency Alert System (EAS), social media, other digital media, and media outlets (i. e. television and radio). The alert shall include a description of the suspect, the vehicle they are believed to be driving, and any additional vehicle or suspect descriptors that may help in the arrest of the suspect.
The Blue Alert Public Safety notification system was enabled in Texas in 2015, under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, following approval by the Texas Legislature. The goal of the system is to raise public awareness of threats to law enforcement, help protect law enforcement personnel, and ultimately reduce the potential for officer casualties due to violent crime.
In order for a Blue Alert to be issued, certain criteria must be met. It must be confirmed that the offender is wanted for killing, seriously injuring or making an immediate threat against a law enforcement officer, and the alert must include pertinent identifying information.
Only law enforcement agencies and their command staffs have the authority to request a Blue Alert. When issued, the alert will remain active until the suspect is taken into custody or is no longer a risk to the public or law enforcement.
Public support is essential to the success of the Blue Alert Public Safety System in Texas. All residents are encouraged to be aware of Blue Alert issuances and provide any information they may have regarding the suspect and/or their whereabouts.
What is a blue alert in my area?
A Blue Alert is a public notification system put in place to help local law enforcement apprehend suspects that have caused serious harm to an officer of the law. When a Blue Alert is activated, local citizens are asked to be vigilant for suspicious activity, provide any pertinent information to emergency services, and keep an eye out for persons of interest.
Blue Alerts also provide increased awareness of the circumstances surrounding the incident, such as the location of the suspect, description of the suspect and their vehicle, and any instructions from local law enforcement.
It’s important to remember that Blue Alerts are not intended to cause panic or alarm—rather, they are meant to help ensure the safe capture of individuals who have caused harm to first responders.
What are the different types of alerts in Texas?
In Texas, there are a variety of different types of alerts that are issued by various state and local agencies. These alerts range from severe weather warnings, to natural disasters, and more.
Severe Weather Alerts – Texas is particularly prone to severe weather including and tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters. The State of Texas has several different types of prepartions for severe weather alerts.
These alerts can be issued through the Texas Department of Public Safety and local offices of emergency management.
Tsunami Warnings – Tsunami warnings are issued by the United States National Weather Service and sent to local television stations and radio stations for dissemination. In Texas, the National Weather Service office in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is the primary office for Tsunami warnings.
Tropical Storm/Hurricane Local Statements – The National Weather Service Office in the Houston/Galveston area releases tropical storm/hurricane local statements as tropical weather systems approach the Texas coastline.
These statements include information on current storm intensity, storm surge, rainfall amounts, tidal conditions, wind speeds and other pertinent information.
Flooding Alerts – Flooding alerts are issued by the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) when local flooding becomes a concern. These alerts are disseminated to the public through local television stations, radio stations and internet websites.
Public Health Alerts – These alerts are issued by public health departments throughout Texas warning of health hazards that include food-borne illness, disease outbreaks, and more. Local health departments will issue information on how to protect yourself and provide updates during the outbreak.
Wildfire Warns – Wildfire warnings are generally issued by county emergency management offices or the Texas Forest Service. Warnings are issued for expected or occurring destructive fires, with recommendations for pre-planning or evacuation orders.
What do the colors of alerts mean?
Alerts typically utilize different colors to distinguish their various levels of urgency. Green alerts are the least serious, and typically indicate that everything is working as it should. Yellow alerts are more serious and are intended to indicate a potential problem, such as a degradation of service.
Red alerts are the most serious, indicating a critical issue that needs to be addressed or an emergency situation. Blue alerts are typically used to convey a less urgent issue or a message of general importance.
What are the 3 types of emergency alerts?
There are three types of emergency alerts: Imminent Threat Alerts, Amber Alerts, and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).
Imminent Threat Alerts are issued by the National Weather Service and are used to inform the public when severe weather events are taking place, such as tornadoes or flash floods. These alerts contain details about the event, including potential severity and the impacted area.
Amber Alerts are issued by local law enforcement to inform the public of an abducted or missing child. These alerts provide details about the child, such as a description and information about their possible whereabouts.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are sent to cell phones to alert the public of viable emergencies, such as extreme weather or dangerous criminals in the area. These alerts can be sent within a designated area, such as a radius around a certain location, to inform the public of the situation.
Why did I get an emergency alert on my phone today?
Today you received an emergency alert on your phone due to several reasons. It could be due to a natural disaster like an impending hurricane, tornado or other hazardous weather event. It could also be due to an Amber Alert, or an alert related to a public safety or security concern.
It is important to be aware of potential hazards and stay informed of potential threats to your safety and security. By understanding the purpose of the emergency alerts, you will be better prepared to respond appropriately in the event of an emergency.
What states have a Blue Alert?
The Blue Alert is currently active in 22 US states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
The alert is intended to rapidly disseminate information to the public when law enforcement officers are assaulted, injured, or missing in the line of duty and there is an immediate threat to public safety.
When a Blue Alert is issued, it is broadcast throughout the state of occurrence and surrounding areas via broadcast media outlets, in-vehicle emergency notification systems, social media, Wireless Emergency Alerts, electronic highway signs, and other systems.
What is the purpose of a Silver Alert?
A Silver Alert is an emergency notification system in the United States to broadcast information about missing persons, particularly seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive impairments.
Silver Alerts use a wide array of media outlets – including commercial radio stations, television stations, and dot-matrix signs on roadways – to broadcast information about missing persons in order to aid in their swift recovery.
Silver Alerts provide detailed descriptions of the missing person and any vehicle they may be using.
Silver Alerts are similar to Amber Alerts, except they are used specifically for elderly individuals who are at risk due to age-related cognitive impairments. Silver Alerts are critical in helping to swiftly recover elderly persons with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other cognitive impairments, as they are more prone to wandering and less likely to be able to help themselves out of difficult situations.
Silver Alerts are also useful for family members looking for a lost elderly person, as broad notifications can be helpful in finding newly-missing persons or those that have been missing for days or weeks.
In addition, Silver Alerts can provide hope and encouragement to families hoping for the swift recovery of a missing elderly loved one.
What is the difference between a Silver Alert and a gold alert?
A Silver Alert and a Gold Alert are two different types of emergency notifications issued by law enforcement when a person’s whereabouts is unknown. Silver Alerts are generally issued when an adult with a disability or a senior citizen is missing and believed to exist in danger because of a mental health issue or physical condition.
By contrast, a Gold Alert is issued when a person of any age is missing and believed to exist in danger due to a physical or mental health condition, or if they’ve been abducted or taken away by force.
The primary difference between the two is that Silver Alerts are used when the missing person has a mental or physical disability, while Gold Alerts don’t require the same standard of proof of disability.
Silver Alerts are also commonly used when a senior citizen has gone missing, whereas Gold Alerts can be issued regardless of the person’s age.