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For Immediate Release
September 8, 2025
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City Council Vice President Moreno Leads Legislation to Create Emergency Alert System for Vulnerable People
NEW ORLEANS, LA — New Orleans City Council Vice President Helena Moreno filed legislation to establish a new local safety alert system designed to locate and aid missing vulnerable children and adults. While AMBER Alerts and Silver Alerts are important tools, they are limited to specific cases, leaving out many at-risk individuals, including children who don’t meet AMBER criteria and adults of all ages with cognitive, developmental, or physical challenges. The proposed local alert program would fill those gaps, ensuring swift public notification when such an individual is reported missing in Orleans Parish. Alerts would be distributed through the City’s NOLA Ready platform or a comparable system, operating 24/7.
Vice President Moreno authored the legislation in consultation and partnership with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) and the Orleans Parish Communications District (OPCD).
“This is about making sure every vulnerable person in our community has the protection they deserve,” said City Council Vice President Moreno. “When a loved one goes missing, families shouldn’t be told they don’t qualify for an alert. Every second matters, and this program will help bring people home safely.”
The program is required to have set definitions for a missing child, senior, or vulnerable adult; standardized activation criteria; minimum alert content to include critical details such as physical descriptions, circumstances of disappearance and last known location, and any medical or safety considerations with a link to a website containing complete details and updates; and guidelines ensuring consistency and non-interference with existing Amber Alert and Silver Alert programs. Once launched, NOPD will publish clear guidance so residents know how alerts work and how they can help.
The legislation can be reviewed here
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Contact:
Chief of Staff
Office of City Council Vice President Helena Moreno
504.658.1063
Sayde.Finkel@nola.gov
 New Orleans City Council
The New Orleans City Council is the legislative branch of the New Orleans city government. The Council considers and enacts all local laws that govern the City of New Orleans. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City, as recommended by the mayor, and continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The City Council is also the regulatory body for public utilities. It also reviews and has the final say on many land use and zoning matters, as well as considers major economic development projects for the City. As a Board of Review for Orleans Parish, the Council examines appeals of property tax assessments for real estate taxes and certifies tax rolls to the Louisiana Tax Commission. Other responsibilities of the Council include overseeing the operation of the public access television in Orleans Parish. Streaming video and video archives of the City Council's Regular and Committee meetings can be found on the City Council website.
The City Council is comprised of five districts and Councilmembers-at-large: Council President and Councilmember-at-Large JP Morrell; Council Vice President and Councilmember-At-Large Helena Moreno; District "A" Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso, III; District "B" Councilmember Lesli D. Harris; District "C" Councilmember Freddie King III; District "D" Councilmember Eugene J. Green, Jr.; and District "E" Councilmember Oliver M. Thomas, Jr.
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