When people are reported missing in Florida, different types of alerts can be sent out depending on the case.
One of those is Florida’s Purple Alert Plan, which helps investigators find missing adults with mental or cognitive disabilities.
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The plan was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis back in 2021, and it’s used in cases where a missing adult:
- has an intellectual or developmental disability
- has a brain injury
- has other physical, mental or emotional disabilities that are unrelated to substance abuse
- has any combination of the above and whose disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm
However, Purple Alerts do not include cases where the missing person suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Those cases are instead covered by the state’s Silver Alert system.
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For a Purple Alert to activate, law enforcement requires a detailed description of the missing person so that investigators can distribute the information to the public throughout the state, usually with a focus on the area near where the person was last seen.
The information about a missing person under this plan will also be displayed on Florida Department of Transportation road signs for up to six hours.
The alert remains activated until the missing person is found, and anyone who sees the missing person is urged to immediately call 911.
“They should make note of the person’s whereabouts, and if applicable, the vehicle tag, direction of travel and location observation (highway/street, city and county),” FDLE explains.
You can sign up to receive Purple Alerts via email or text by clicking here.
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