What Is a Turquoise Alert?

A turquoise alert is an emergency notification system designed to help the public locate missing adults who have a diagnosed cognitive or developmental impairment. This includes conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, other forms of dementia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or any other condition that significantly affects a person's ability to navigate their surroundings safely.

The name comes from the color turquoise, chosen to visually distinguish this alert type from other missing-person notification systems on highway message signs and broadcast screens. When a qualifying individual goes missing and law enforcement activates a turquoise alert, the notification is pushed across three channels simultaneously:

• Dynamic message signs on highways and major roads
• Local TV and radio stations through the Emergency Alert System (EAS)
• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) sent directly to mobile phones in the affected geographic area

Turquoise alerts fill a critical gap in missing-person infrastructure. Amber Alerts cover missing children. Silver Alerts cover endangered missing seniors. Turquoise alerts specifically target adults of any age who have a documented cognitive impairment — a population that can be high-risk regardless of age. Without this designation, younger adults with autism or TBI who go missing may not have automatically qualified for existing alert programs.

Turquoise Alert vs. Amber Alert vs. Silver Alert

Understanding which alert system applies helps you grasp the urgency and respond correctly. The three main public alert types in the United States each target a different missing-person population:

• Amber Alert: For missing children under 18 where law enforcement believes the child is in danger of serious harm or death. Named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old abducted in Texas in 1996.
• Silver Alert: For missing adults, typically elderly, who may be endangered due to age-related dementia or mental health conditions. Criteria vary significantly by state — some states issue Silver Alerts for any missing senior over 65, others require documented impairment.
• Turquoise Alert: For missing adults of any age (over 18) who have a documented cognitive or developmental impairment such as autism, Alzheimer's, TBI, or a similar diagnosis.

Some states have overlapping criteria between Silver and Turquoise alerts, so you may see one category but not the other depending on your location. The practical response for the public is nearly identical across all three: read the description carefully, look around your immediate surroundings, and call 911 if you spot the person.

One important distinction in how you approach the missing person: people with autism or developmental disabilities may not respond to strangers the same way an elderly dementia patient would. A person with autism might avoid eye contact, not respond to their name, or become distressed if touched. Being aware of this behavioral difference can help you interact more safely and effectively if you encounter the missing individual.

Which States Have Turquoise Alert Programs

Turquoise alerts are a newer category in the emergency alert landscape and are not yet universally adopted across all 50 states. Texas was one of the earliest adopters, establishing a formal turquoise alert program to complement its existing Silver Alert and Amber Alert systems. Nevada and several other states have also passed legislation creating a turquoise alert designation.

If you are unsure whether your state has a turquoise alert program, the fastest way to find out is to contact your state's Department of Public Safety or search for your state's Missing Persons Clearinghouse online. Many state emergency management agencies publish their full alert systems on their official websites.

In states without a dedicated turquoise alert program, law enforcement typically uses Silver Alerts or issues a standard missing-person bulletin to cover cognitively impaired adults. The absence of a formal turquoise designation does not mean vulnerable adults are unprotected — it means the alert type may be labeled differently in your state.

If you are an advocate or family member who wants your state to adopt a turquoise alert program, contacting your state legislature's public safety committee is the most direct path. Most turquoise alert bills have passed with broad bipartisan support after being championed by families of individuals with autism or Alzheimer's disease, and advocacy organizations for those communities often have model legislation ready to share with lawmakers.

How a Turquoise Alert Gets Issued

A turquoise alert is not issued automatically — it requires a series of steps initiated by law enforcement after a missing person report is filed. Here is how the process typically works:

1. Report filed: A family member, caregiver, or other responsible party contacts local law enforcement to report the missing adult. Do not wait 24 hours — there is no legal requirement to do so, and time is critical for cognitively impaired individuals.
2. Eligibility confirmed: Law enforcement verifies that the missing adult has a documented cognitive or developmental impairment. The reporter typically provides this information, along with any medical documentation if available.
3. Danger assessment: Officers determine that the person is in danger — for example, they have wandered from home, the weather is extreme, or there are safety hazards in the search area.
4. Identifying information gathered: The issuing agency collects a full physical description (name, age, height, weight, clothing), last known location, direction of travel, any vehicle the person may have accessed, and a photograph.
5. Alert activated: The agency submits the alert through the state emergency management system, which pushes it to highway signs, broadcast media, and Wireless Emergency Alert-capable mobile devices in the defined geographic zone.

The alert typically remains active until the missing person is found or law enforcement cancels it. A follow-up alert is sent when the person is located safely, which is why you may sometimes receive a second notification shortly after the first.

Exactly What to Do When You See a Turquoise Alert

When a turquoise alert notification appears on your phone, highway sign, or television, follow these steps in order:

1. Read the full alert. Note the person's name, physical description (height, weight, clothing, hair color), last known location, and any vehicle information. The more detail you absorb now, the more useful you will be if you spot the person.
2. Look around your immediate surroundings. If you are in a public place, scan parking lots, bus stops, sidewalks, nearby parks, and businesses. Cognitively impaired individuals who wander often remain within a short radius of their last known location, particularly in areas that feel familiar to them.
3. Do not approach aggressively. If you believe you have spotted the person, do not restrain them, shout their name suddenly, or make rapid movements toward them. People with dementia or autism can become frightened by strangers and may flee, increasing the risk of injury in traffic or other hazards.
4. Approach calmly if safe. Use a gentle, reassuring tone. You might say something like, “Hi, it looks like you might need some help — can I sit with you for a moment?” The goal is to keep them in place without escalating their distress.
5. Call 911 immediately. Not 311, not a non-emergency line — 911. Turquoise alerts are emergencies. Give the dispatcher your precise location using cross streets, a landmark, or your phone's GPS coordinates. Describe what you see and provide your callback number.
6. Stay on the line. If the person remains in view, stay on the phone with the dispatcher until police arrive. Provide updates if the person moves.
7. Do not post to social media before calling 911. Well-intentioned posts can spread inaccurate location information, draw crowds that frighten the missing person, or complicate the coordinated search. Call first; post only if authorities later request additional public assistance.

How to Enable Turquoise Alert Notifications on Your Phone

Turquoise alerts are delivered through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system — the same infrastructure used for Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts, and severe weather warnings. These are typically enabled by default on modern smartphones, but you should verify your settings to be sure.

On iPhone (iOS 15 and later)

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Notifications.
3. Scroll to the very bottom of the Notifications screen.
4. Under the Government Alerts section, make sure AMBER Alerts and Emergency Alerts are toggled on (green).

Turquoise alerts issued in participating states are transmitted through this system. If both toggles are on, you will receive them automatically when you are in the geographic broadcast zone for an active alert.

On Android (Android 11 and later)

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps or Notifications (varies by manufacturer).
3. Tap Advanced or search for Wireless Emergency Alerts.
4. Ensure Amber Alerts and Extreme Threats are turned on.

Samsung, Pixel, and other Android variants may place this setting in slightly different menu paths. If you cannot find it, search emergency alerts in your phone's Settings search bar — it surfaces the correct screen on most devices.

Note: You cannot selectively receive only turquoise alerts while blocking others. WEA alerts are delivered by type, and the types available depend on what the issuing state activates. Keeping all public safety alerts enabled ensures you receive the full range of notifications including extreme weather, Amber, Silver, and turquoise alerts.

How to Report a Missing Vulnerable Adult

If you are a family member, caregiver, or close contact of a cognitively impaired adult who has gone missing, take these steps immediately and in this order:

1. Call 911 right away. Ignore the outdated 24-hour myth — there is no legal requirement to wait before filing a missing person report, particularly for someone with a cognitive impairment. Early reporting dramatically improves outcomes.
2. Provide complete identifying information. Have ready: full legal name, date of birth, height, weight, eye color, hair color, distinguishing features, a recent clear photo, the clothing they were last seen wearing, their last known location and approximate time, any vehicle they might have accessed, their specific diagnosis, and notable behavioral patterns (such as a tendency to walk toward water, seek busy roads, or avoid verbal communication).
3. Ask explicitly about a turquoise alert. Not all dispatchers will automatically consider activating one. Say directly: “My family member has [Alzheimer's / autism / TBI] — can a turquoise alert be issued?” Providing any medical documentation you have on hand can support the eligibility determination.
4. Contact your state's Missing Persons Clearinghouse. Most states maintain a clearinghouse as a central coordination resource for active missing persons cases. They can engage multiple agencies simultaneously and often have resources that local police departments do not.
5. Notify nearby community resources. After contacting law enforcement, call nearby hospitals, emergency rooms, transit authorities, and community centers. Provide your phone number and the person's description. Printed flyers with a clear photograph can be distributed quickly to businesses and neighbors.
6. Use community platforms strategically. Nextdoor, local Facebook groups, and neighborhood watch networks can amplify a search — but coordinate with the investigating officer before posting to ensure what you share is approved and accurate. Conflicting information in public posts can delay the response.

Once a turquoise alert is active, the primary job of family and caregivers is to remain reachable by phone and maintain regular contact with the lead investigator for updates. Conducting your own parallel search can sometimes interfere with the official operation — follow law enforcement's guidance on where and whether to search independently.