Ashanti, Feather, and Green Alerts: the other alerts for missing people
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AMBER and Silver get the attention. These three cover missing people who don't qualify for either.
Most people know an AMBER Alert means a child has been abducted and a Silver Alert usually means an older adult with dementia is missing. There are more, and there's no single national list, because most missing-person alerts are created and run by individual states. Three worth knowing are the Ashanti, Feather, and Green Alerts.
Ashanti Alerts: missing adults
The Ashanti Alert covers missing adults who fall outside AMBER and Silver Alerts. It's named for Ashanti Billie, "a 19-year-old woman who was abducted and killed in Virginia in 2017," according to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. At 19, she fell outside both AMBER Alerts, which cover children, and Silver Alerts, which mostly cover older adults.
The Ashanti Alert Act became law on December 31, 2018, and applies to missing people over the age of 17. It set up a national network to support state plans, but the bureau describes it as "a voluntary nationwide communication network," so whether an Ashanti Alert exists where you live depends on your state.
Feather Alerts: missing Indigenous people
California's Feather Alert notifies the public when an Indigenous person is reported missing. The California Highway Patrol runs it, and it began in 2023 under state law.
A Feather Alert requires that the person is Indigenous, that local and tribal resources have already been used, that the person is determined to be missing, that they're believed to be in danger, and that getting the information out could help bring them home safely.
Green Alerts: missing veterans
Wisconsin's Green Alert covers "missing veterans who have a service-related health condition," according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The state created it through 2017 Wisconsin Act 175. Some other states have passed their own versions for veterans and service members, under different names.
How many alert colors are there?
No official count exists, and the names change at state lines. AMBER Alerts follow Department of Justice guidelines nationwide. Silver, Feather, Green, and many others are state programs with their own names and rules, and a missing adult in one state may qualify for an alert that doesn't exist in the next state over. Our explainer on AMBER, Silver, and Blue Alerts covers the three most common.
Whatever the color, the request is the same: if you see the person or vehicle described, call 911 with what you saw and where.
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Frequently asked
What is an Ashanti Alert?
An Ashanti Alert is for missing adults over 17 who do not qualify for AMBER or Silver Alerts. It is named for Ashanti Billie, a 19-year-old abducted and killed in Virginia in 2017. State participation in the national network is voluntary.
What is a Feather Alert?
A Feather Alert is a California program run by the California Highway Patrol that notifies the public when an Indigenous person is reported missing and believed to be in danger. It began in 2023.
How many color-coded alerts are there?
There is no official count. AMBER Alerts follow national Department of Justice guidelines, but Silver, Feather, Green, and many other alerts are run by individual states with their own names and criteria.