The Florida Purple Alert is one of several used by the state to assist in notifying and seeking help from residents regarding missing persons.
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Purple Alerts, put in place by the state in 2022, seek to help the community to aid in finding missing adults with mental or cognitive disabilities that are not Alzheimer’s, dementia, or disabilities created by substance abuse.
The alerts involve people whose disappearance “poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm,” according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The FDLE said generally the alert stays on until the missing person is found. But if the alert was made with the missing person in an identified vehicle, the Department of Transportation will activate their road signs for a maximum of six hours.
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Coverage of the alert is state-wide with a focus on the location where the individual went missing originally.
The FDLE also said that it is up to the local law enforcement to decide if the missing person meets the criteria for a Purple Alert, but that families or caregivers should report it if they believe there to be a reason for it.
If a member of the public thinks they’ve encountered the missing person, they should dial 911 or *FHP (347).
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To sign up to receive alerts you can click here