Only a law enforcement agency can activate the Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert System. If your 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 issue a Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert, please call (832) 269-2553 or (713) 599-0235 for 24/7 support and activation assistance.
Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert System Criteria
The following criteria must be met to activate the Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert System:
- 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.*
- 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.
- The Endangered Missing Persons Alert request has been made within 72 hours of the missing person’s disappearance.
- 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.
Missing children believed to be abducted under the age of 18 may qualify for an Amber Alert issued locally by the Houston Regional Amber Alert Program.
Missing adults 65 years of age or older with a diagnosed impaired mental condition may qualify for a Silver Alert issued by Texas Center for the Missing.
How to Issue a Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert
The Houston Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alert System serves the 14 counties surrounding the Houston area and is managed by Texas Center for the Missing. If your agency believes an endangered Missing Person of any age is missing and has been diagnosed with an intellectual or a developmental disability and may be located in the Greater Houston area, this is the appropriate Emergency Alert to issue. Regional Endangered Missing Persons Alerts are distributed to local, state, and national law enforcement agencies, local media outlets, TCM’s Endangered Missing Persons Alert Partners, and the Texas Department of Transportation.
1. Make sure you have all the information needed to issue the Endangered Missing Persons Alert handy, including physical description of the missing individual, medical documentation, a vehicle description if possible, and photo.
2. Contact our Amber Alert Coordinator at (832) 269-2553 for 24/7 activation assistance.
3. Once the Endangered Missing Person Alert is issued regionally, you may request alert reissuance in surrounding regions or statewide. Texas Center for the Missing will notify our partners of the Endangered Missing Persons Alert via our organization’s distribution list and social media. TCM can also serve as a media liaison or consultant upon request.
4. To cancel an alert, contact our Emergency Alert coordinator at 832-269-2553. The Emergency Alerts Coordinator will cancel the alert regionally, notify our partners of the cancellation, and will provide your agency with victim support resources or media liaison services as needed.
Contact our Emergency Alert coordinator at (832) 269-2553
for 24/7 support and activation assistance.
How to Issue a Texas Statewide Endangered Missing Persons Alert
If your agency believes a missing adult diagnosed with an intellectual disability may be located outside the Greater Houston/Galveston 14-county region, this is an appropriate Alert to issue.
- Visit the State websitehere to request a statewide Endangered Missing Persons Alert. Please note the statewide submission and issuance process may take a few hours.
- Contact our Regional Emergency Alert Coordinator at (832) 269-2553 or call (713) 599-0235 for local and statewide issuance support, local missing persons response resources, and media liaison services.
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.