|
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2025
|
City Council Vice President Moreno Advances Legislation to Establish Emergency Alert System for Vulnerable Individuals
NEW ORLEANS, LA — New Orleans City Council Vice President Helena Moreno advanced legislation during today’s Governmental Affairs Committee directing the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) to establish a new local safety alert system designed to locate missing vulnerable children and adults. This legislation is a direct response to the recent heartbreaking situation concerning Bryan Vazquez, who went missing in New Orleans and his case did not meet established requirements for an AMBER alert to be issued.
Although AMBER Alerts and Silver Alerts are vital tools, they are applied with strict guidelines, leaving many at-risk individuals without coverage. Children who do not meet AMBER criteria and adults of all ages with cognitive, developmental, or physical challenges often fall through the cracks. This directive to create a new local alert program aims to close those gaps, providing swift public notification whenever such an individual is reported missing in Orleans Parish. Alerts would be issued through the City’s NOLA Ready platform or a comparable system, operating around the clock.
“At its core, this effort is about dignity, safety, and urgency. No family should ever be told their missing and vulnerable child, parent, or loved one doesn’t qualify for help,” said City Council Vice President Moreno. “In those terrifying moments, every second is precious, and this program could be the lifeline that brings someone’s family member home.”
“Nearly 49% of children with autism attempt to elope at least once after age 4. Of those who eloped, more than half - 53% - went missing long enough to cause serious concern. Perhaps most striking, 91% of deaths in children under 14 with autism are due to drowning, and autistic people are estimated to be about 160 times more likely to drown than neurotypical peers,” said Claire Tibbetts, Executive Director for the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans, at today’s committee hearing. “These numbers tell us that wandering incidents, especially near water, are not rare and are often life threatening. A dedicated alert system is a necessary improvement to our current system, which will make it easier to safeguard vulnerable members of our community. When a person with a disability wanders off, especially near water or in unfamiliar surroundings, every minute counts. A faster response will save lives. The proposed system’s criteria better account for vulnerability, disability, and conditions like autism.”
Vice President Moreno authored the legislation in consultation and partnership with the NOPD, the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP), and the Orleans Parish Communications District (OPCD) with the measure co-authored by the entire City Council.
As NOPD, OPCD, and NOHSEP work collaboratively to establish this alert system, the legislation outlines minimum guidelines for the program, including set definitions for a missing child, senior, or vulnerable adult; standardized activation and cancellation 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 would publish clear guidance so residents knew how alerts worked and how they could help.
The legislation passed in committee today will appear on the September 25, 2025 consent agenda at the Council’s next regular meeting.
###
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.
|
