A Silver Alert in Washington State is a public notification that law enforcement issues to help find a missing person age 60 or older who is believed to be in danger. It is a specific label within a broader Washington program called the Endangered Missing Person Advisory (EMPA), which also covers other vulnerable adults who don’t meet AMBER Alert criteria.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Chapter 13.60 – Missing Children and Endangered Person Clearinghouse The Washington State Patrol coordinates the system; local police or the sheriff’s office starts it after a family files a missing person report.
A quick boundary worth knowing: a younger adult with early-onset Alzheimer’s or a developmental disability can still get an EMPA alert and the same law enforcement response, but the message won’t carry the “Silver Alert” name. The Silver label exists so a highway sign or radio spot can quickly signal the kind of person who is missing.
Who Qualifies for a Silver Alert in Washington
Two things have to line up: the person and the circumstances.
On the person side, they must be 60 or older and fit at least one of the endangered-person categories in state law:1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Chapter 13.60 – Missing Children and Endangered Person Clearinghouse
- At risk because of age, health, or a mental or physical disability, especially combined with weather or environmental conditions, and believed unable to return safely without help.
- Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other age-related dementia.
- A vulnerable adult under the state’s adult protective services statutes.
- A person with a developmental disability as defined under Washington law.
On the circumstances side, the person must be missing under unexplained, involuntary, or suspicious conditions, and there has to be enough descriptive information for the public to act on — a physical description, a last known location, or vehicle details.2Washington State Legislature. HB 1021 House Bill Report Without usable details, there is nothing for drivers or neighbors to look for.
How To Get a Silver Alert Started
Only law enforcement can activate a Silver Alert. Families cannot issue one directly. The way to begin is to file a missing person report with the local police department or sheriff’s office where the person was last seen.3Washington State Patrol. Alerts and Missing Persons
Do not wait 24 hours. The Washington State Patrol is explicit that there is no time requirement before reporting a missing person.4Washington State Patrol. Missing Person Reporting Brochure For someone with dementia, the first few hours matter most, and bad weather compresses that window further.
Bring as much of the following as you can to the report:
- A recent photograph.
- A physical description, including what the person was wearing.
- Medical conditions and current medications.
- Vehicle make, model, color, and license plate.
- Places the person frequents or has a connection to.
Once the investigating agency confirms the case meets EMPA criteria, it enters the alert into the state computerized law enforcement system, notifies the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit (MUPU), and enters the case into the National Crime Information Center and the Washington Crime Information Center. From there, other Washington law enforcement agencies and media partners are notified.2Washington State Legislature. HB 1021 House Bill Report
MUPU is the central coordinating unit for missing person cases statewide, but it works through the local agency rather than instead of it. Once a local report exists, MUPU can create a missing person poster with the person’s photo at the request of a family member, legal guardian, or the investigating agency, and it can provide a data packet and additional investigative support. You can reach MUPU at 1-800-543-5678 or mpu@wsp.wa.gov.5Washington State Patrol. Missing Persons
How the Alert Reaches the Public
Silver Alerts travel through several channels at once.
Highway variable message signs are the most visible. They display vehicle details — make, model, color, and plate — so drivers have something concrete to watch for. Those signs are activated only when vehicle information is known, because a sign that just says “look for an elderly man” gives drivers nothing to act on.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Chapter 13.60 – Missing Children and Endangered Person Clearinghouse Highway advisory radio carries the same information on designated frequencies, and law enforcement agencies push alerts through their social media accounts and media releases.
Cell phone alerts are newer. In 2025, the FCC created a Missing Endangered Persons (MEP) code that lets law enforcement send alerts for missing endangered adults through the Wireless Emergency Alert system — the same technology that delivers AMBER Alerts to phones. Wireless carrier participation is voluntary, so whether a Silver Alert reaches your phone depends on your carrier’s adoption of the MEP code.6Federal Communications Commission. Missing Endangered Persons Emergency Alert System Code
What To Do if You See a Silver Alert
Read the specifics carefully: physical description, clothing, last known location, and any vehicle details. If you spot someone who matches, call 911 right away. Use the non-emergency line only for a tip that isn’t time-sensitive, such as remembering you saw someone matching the description earlier in the day.
Do not approach the person yourself. Someone who has wandered because of dementia or a cognitive impairment is often disoriented and frightened, and a stranger trying to stop or redirect them can make things worse. Give dispatch a location and stay on the line.
Reducing the Risk Before It Happens
For families caring for someone with dementia or a cognitive disability, the best Silver Alert is the one that never has to be issued. Wandering is one of the most common and dangerous behaviors tied to Alzheimer’s, and a few practical steps lower the risk a lot.
The National Institute on Aging recommends that the person carry identification at all times — a medical bracelet, an ID card in a pocket, or a name and phone number labeled inside clothing in case a bracelet comes off. GPS tracking devices made for this purpose can show a person’s location in real time, and keeping a recent photo or video on hand speeds up any search that does become necessary.7National Institute on Aging. Coping With Alzheimers Behaviors: Wandering and Getting Lost
At home, door alarms or smart doorbells that chime when a door opens give an early warning. Keyed deadbolts placed unusually high or low on exterior doors slow down someone trying to leave. Keeping coats, shoes, and keys out of sight removes visual cues that can prompt a person to head outside.
Some Washington communities also run Project Lifesaver. Participants wear a small radio transmitter on the wrist or ankle that emits a unique signal, and if the person wanders, local law enforcement can track that signal within about a mile on the ground. The program is designed for people with Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome, dementia, and other cognitive conditions.8City of Sequim. Project Lifesaver Not every Washington agency offers it, so ask your local police department or sheriff’s office whether it’s available where you live.