Only a law enforcement agency can activate Houston Regional Emergency Alert Systems.  If your child or loved one is missing, please contact 9-1-1 immediately and then Get Help Now.

If  you are a law enforcement officer and your agency needs to activate an Emergency Alert,
please contact
(832) 269-2553 for 24/7 support and activation assistance.

Houston Regional Amber Alert System Criteria

The following criteria must be met to activate the Houston Regional Amber Alert System (HRAAS).

1. Is the child 17 years of age or younger, whose whereabouts are unknown, and whose disappearance law enforcement has determined to be unwilling which poses a credible threat to the child’s safety and health; and if abducted by a parent or legal guardian, was the abduction in the course of an attempted murder or murder?
   OR
   Is this child 13 years of age or younger, who was taken (willingly or unwillingly) without permission from the care and custody of a parent or legal guardian by:

• Someone unrelated and more than three years older,
  OR
• Another parent or legal guardian who attempted or committed murder at the time of the abduction?




2. Is this child in immediate danger of sexual assault, death or serious bodily injury?
3. Has a preliminary investigation verified the abduction and eliminated alternative explanations for the child’s disappearance?
4. Is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public to help locate the child, a suspect, or the vehicle used in the abduction?






Houston Regional CLEAR Alert System Criteria

The following criteria must be met to activate the Houston Regional CLEAR Alert System:

1. Is the individual 18 to 64 years of age, whose whereabouts are unknown?
2. Has a preliminary investigation verified the adult is in imminent danger of bodily injury or death or is the disappearance involuntary such as an abduction or kidnapping?
3. Is the Clear Alert request within 72 hours of the individual’s disappearance?
4. Is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public to help locate the individual, a suspect, or the vehicle used in the incident?  (Highway signs will be activated only if accurate vehicle information is available AND it is confirmed that the missing person was in the vehicle at the time of the disappearance).






Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert System Criteria

The following criteria must be met to activate the Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert System:

1. The missing person has been diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability and/or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, including Asperger’s Disorder, Autistic Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett’s Disorder or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified).  If the missing person has been diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability, law enforcement shall require a written diagnosis from a physician or psychologist licensed to practice within Texas, or certified by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and/or Texas Department of State Health Services.*
2. It is confirmed that an investigation has taken place, verifying that a reasonable explanation for the missing person’s disappearance has been ruled out and that the disappearance poses a credible threat to the health and safety of the missing person.
3. The Endangered Missing Persons Alert request has been made within 72 hours of the missing person’s disappearance.
4. There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing person.  (Highway signs will be activated only if accurate vehicle information is available AND it is confirmed that the missing person was in the vehicle at the time of the disappearance).

*Note:  Medical documentation required for activation of the Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert System should appear on physician’s letterhead, indicating the impaired mental condition, date of diagnosis, patient’s name, and include the physician’s signature.



Houston Regional Silver Alert System Criteria

The following criteria must be met to activate the Houston Regional Silver Alert Network:

1. Is the missing person 65 years of age or older or been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease?
2. Does the senior citizen have a diagnosed impaired mental condition, and does the senior citizen’s disappearance pose a credible threat to the senior citizen’s health and safety? (Law enforcement shall require the family or legal guardian of the missing senior citizen to provide documentation from a medical or mental health professional of the senior citizen’s condition).
3. Is it confirmed that an investigation has taken place verifying that the senior citizen’s disappearance is due to his/her impaired mental condition, and alternative reasons for the senior citizen’s disappearance have been ruled out?
4. Is the Silver Alert request within 72 hours of the senior citizen’s disappearance?
5. Is there sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the senior citizen? (Highway signs will be activated only if accurate vehicle information is available AND it is confirmed that the senior citizen was driving the vehicle at the time of the disappearance).

*Note:  A physician’s letterhead, indicating the impaired mental condition, date of diagnosis, patient’s name, with physician’s signature is recommended to satisfy the documentation requirement.




Victim Services

For assistance with Crime Victims’ Compensation or any other victim services, please contact Texas Center for the Missing Case Manager at (713) 599-0235 or mrangel@tcftm.org.