LIST: What to know about every Texas DPS alert

TYLER, Texas (KETK) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) created the statewide alert program to quickly notify the public about urgent threats in their region. Each alert type serves a specific purpose, from locating missing children to active shooter situations.

KETK News has compiled a list of each alert the Texas DPS issues, what they mean and why they were created.

AMBER Alert

The first AMBER alert program was created in the Dallas/Fort Worth area after the community's reaction to the 1996 kidnapping and death of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington. In memory of Hagerman's death, the letters of her name can be seen within the title of the program, America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER).

In 2002, Governor Rick Perry created the state's AMBER Alert network. "AMBER Alerts inform the public of serious child abductions, in an effort to promote tips and leads to law enforcement," Texas DPS said. "The Texas DPS was given legislative authority to coordinate the state's AMBER Alert network, which served as the role model for the subsequent Silver, Blue and Endangered Missing Persons alert programs."

In 2023, Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation authorizing local area activation of AMBER alert in certain circumstances, in honor of seven-year-old Athena Strand, who was kidnapped and murdered in Wise County in 2022.

"Under this legislation, a request for local area alert activation may be made by a law enforcement agency that knows a child is missing but has not verified the Amber Alert criteria, and if the chief law enforcement officer of the local law enforcement agency believes that activation of the alert system is warranted," officials said.

For Texas DPS to issue an AMBER Alert, the missing child has to meet certain criteria; people can learn more about this on their website.

Silver Alert

In 2007, the state's Silver Alert was created to notify the public of missing older adults with a documented mental condition. "Wandering impacts families and caregivers statewide, affecting those who suffer with various mental conditions, to include Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia," Texas DPS said.

For Texas DPS to issue a Silver Alert, the missing elderly person has to meet certain criteria; people can learn more about this on their website.

Blue Alert

On Aug. 18, 2008, Governor Rick Perry signed an executive order creating the state's Blue Alert program.

"Blue Alerts are designed to speed in the apprehension of violent criminals who kill or seriously wound local, state, or federal law enforcement officers," Texas DPS said. "During a Blue Alert, the public receives information regarding the suspected assailant, facilitating tips and leads to law enforcement."

For Texas DPS to issue a Blue Alert, the suspect has to meet certain criteria; people can learn more about this on their website.

Endangered Missing Persons Alert

In 2011, the Texas AMBER alert legislation was updated to include alerts for missing persons, of any age, with an intellectual disability.

"Similar to wandering incidents in older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementias, those with intellectual disabilities (Autism, Developmental Disorders, etc.), are also prone to wandering into unsafe environments," Texas DPS said. "In order to avoid public confusion with AMBER Alerts for abducted children, the name 'Endangered Missing Persons Alert' was selected."

For Texas DPS to issue an Endangered Missing Persons Alert, the person has to meet certain criteria; people can learn more about this on their website.

CLEAR Alert

In 2019, the Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue (CLEAR) alert program was created to close the gap between missing children and senior citizens.

The CLEAR alert assists law enforcement in locating and rescuing missing, kidnapped, or abducted adults or adults who are in immediate danger of injury or death, also aids in locating any potential suspects.

The CLEAR Alert honors victims of violence, Cayley Mandadi, D'Lisa Kelley, Erin Castro, Ashanti Billie and the Rest.

For Texas DPS to issue a CLEAR Alert, the adult has to meet certain criteria; people can learn more about this on their website.

Power Outage Alert

In 2021, the Texas Power Outage Alert was created to notify Texas broadcasters when the power supply is "inadequate to meet the demand for the state or a region."

Once the broadcasters are notified, they will provide useful information to the public of the potential grid emergency and resource information from the Public Utility Commission of Texas or any of the four independent organizations with oversight of grid operations in Texas:

• Electric Reliability Council of Texas
• Midwest Reliability Organization
• Southeast Reliability Corporation
• Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Active Shooter Alert

In 2021, the Active Shooter Alert program was created to alert people nearby to active shooter situations through their cellular devices, local broadcast media, Texas Department of Transportation Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and other resources.

"The goal of this program is to save lives and prevent mass violence by notifying the public of nearby active shooter situations and encouraging them to avoid the area or to shelter in place," Texas DPS said. "An active shooter is defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area."

For Texas DPS to issue an Active Shooter Alert, the alert has to meet certain criteria; people can learn more about this on their website.

For people who want to see active alerts or want to subscribe to receive them, they can visit the Texas DPS website.

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