In Florida, there are several types of emergency alerts that can be sent out to notify the public of critical information. These alerts are sent through text messages, radio/TV broadcasts, and highway signs. The most common alerts include:

• AMBER Alert: This alert informs the public of serious child abductions in an effort to promote tips and leads to law enforcement. The letters of Amber Hagermans name can be seen within the title of the program, Americas Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) .

• Silver Alert: This alert notifies the public of missing older adults with a documented mental condition who may have wandered, such as those with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia.

• Blue Alert: This alert is designed to help with the capture of violent criminals who killed or seriously wounded local, state, or federal law enforcement officers. During a Blue Alert, the public receives information regarding the suspect with the hope of law enforcement.

• Purple Alert: This alert refers to a missing individual over the age of 18 who is affected by a physical, mental, or intellectual disability that is not Alzheimers disease, dementia, or substance abuse issues. The person in question must also be at risk of imminent danger.

All of these alerts have specific criteria that must be met before they are sent out. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement coordinates with other agencies to get missing person advisories out to the public. The Florida Blue Alert is specifically designed to notify the public of critical information when a law enforcement officer is killed, suffered serious bodily injury, or is missing while in the line of duty and the suspect, who is considered to pose an imminent threat to the public, is still at large.