Alaska’s Silver Alert system provides a way for families, caregivers, law enforcement, media, and the public to cooperate in locating missing vulnerable adults. Silver Alerts provide the public with information about missing at-risk, vulnerable adults in order to aid in their safe return.

Alaska’s Silver Alert program, signed into law in July 2013 as House Bill 59, is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies, state and local government, and Alaska’s media and broadcasters that alerts the public when a vulnerable adult is missing and believed to be in serious danger.

According to House Bill 59, a "vulnerable adult" is defined as a person 18 years of age or older who, because of physical or mental impairment, is unable to meet the person's own needs or to seek help without assistance.

Alaska’s Silver Alert system is available for use by law enforcement to alert the public when there is a missing vulnerable adult and is designed to use maximum public participation to recover the missing safely.

In Alaska, when law enforcement receives a report of a missing vulnerable adult meeting the Silver Alert criteria, the Alaska State Troopers are contacted and activate a Silver Alert. In the event the Troopers are unable to issue the Alert, the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center serves as a back-up, providing redundant alerting capability.

The Alert (including a description of the missing, last known location, and additional information) is disseminated through:

• The Alaska State Silver Alert web page http://silveralert.alaska.gov/. The page is revised, as needed, whenever additional information is received.
• The Alaska State Silver Alert email notification list for public and media advisory.
• The Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Division of Homeland Security Web, Facebook and Twitter pages. These pages are revised, as needed, whenever additional information is received.
• The Alaska State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities "511" roadway information and Department notification system.

Public reports about an active Silver Alert are received through Alaska’s Silver Alert hotline 855-SILVR99 (855-745-8799) or through local 911. Alerts are canceled whenever the initiating law enforcement agency determines the Alert is no longer needed.

After each Alert is concluded, an After Action Review is conducted with participating agencies to consider possible improvements.