Statewide- NM – People across New Mexico will begin receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones after a Silver Alert or Turquoise Alert is issued for a missing elderly individual or Native American who meets the established alert criteria. The Silver and Turquoise Alert system operates similarly to the AMBER Alert system but is specifically tailored to assist in locating at-risk adults that meet the criteria. Alerts include descriptions of the missing person, the last known location, and any vehicle information if available.
These alerts will be sent through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system to ensure rapid, widespread notification to the public. Silver Alerts are designed to help locate missing and endangered persons who are at least 50 years of age or older and who the reporting party believes displays signs or symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, or another form of dementia, cognitive decline, or impairment, regardless of age.
Turquoise Alerts sent via the Wireless Emergency Alerting System are designed to help locate Native Americans who are in imminent danger of great bodily harm or death and there is enough descriptive information about the missing person to assist in locating them.
When the criteria for a Silver or Turquoise Alert are met, law enforcement agencies work in coordination with state authorities to issue alerts across multiple platforms, including news outlets, and cell phone notifications to maximize public awareness and improve the chances of safely locating the missing individual.
