KEY TAKEAWAYS: New Orleans will launch “Bryan’s Call” on May 25 to improve missing persons response times The system will cover vulnerable children and adults not eligible for AMBER or Silver Alerts Alerts will be issued through the city’s NOLA Ready emergency notification platform Pro gram developed by city agencies including the New Orleans Police Department and emergency management officials   The City of New Orleans will launch a new endangered missing persons alert system on May 25 aimed at improving response times for locating vulnerable children and adults who do not qualify for existing AMBER or Silver Alerts. Mayor Helena Moreno and New Orleans Police Deputy Chief Nicholas Gernon announced the rollout of “Bryan’s Call,” a city-run notification system designed to close gaps in statewide alert programs that can exclude certain missing persons cases. City officials said the system was developed to provide rapid public notification when children or adults with cognitive, developmental, physical, or age-related vulnerabilities go missing in Orleans Parish. It will be activated through the city’s emergency notification platform, NOLA Ready, operating 24 hours a day. The initiative originated during Moreno’s time as City Council vice president following the disappearance of Bryan Vazquez, whose case did not meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert at the time. Officials said the new system is intended to ensure similar cases receive faster public attention. Under program guidelines, an alert may be issued when a child, senior, or vulnerable adult is missing, their whereabouts are unknown, and circumstances suggest a credible threat to their safety. The case must involve an incident in Orleans Parish or a belief that the individual is in the parish, and sufficient descriptive information must be available to assist the public. The case also must not meet existing AMBER or Silver Alert thresholds. The New Orleans Police Department, along with the Orleans Parish Communications District and the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, helped design activation standards, including criteria for issuing and canceling alerts and requirements for minimum case details shared with the public. Officials said alerts will include physical descriptions, last known locations, circumstances of disappearance, and relevant medical or safety concerns, along with links to updated case information. Claire Tibbetts, executive director of the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans, said in a statement that individuals with disabilities who wander face heightened risks and that faster public alerts can be lifesaving. “Wandering from safe locations presents a significant risk to the life and health of disabled and vulnerable individuals of all ages,” Tibbetts said, citing research showing elevated drowning risk among autistic children. The city said “Bryan’s Call” differs from similar proposals in the Louisiana Legislature because it covers both adults and children. Residents can learn more at Bryan’s Call here and submit tips related to alerts through Crime Stoppers or by calling (504) 821-2222. Tips can also be submitted via 911 or the Orleans Parish Communications District. To receive alerts, residents can text “NOLAREADY” to 77295. ...read more read less