There is a new statewide warning in New York

You’re probably familiar with the Amber Alert, Silver Alert and others sent to your phone when searching for a missing person in your area. New York State has now added another alert category when it comes to helping find missing people.

What is the new nationwide warning?

According to NPR, California became the first state to add this new alert category in October 2023. The new statewide alert system is designed specifically to locate and raise awareness of missing Black children and young Black women. The warning is called the “Ebony Alert” and will be used in New York State moving forward.

How does an “Ebony Alert” work?

If an “Ebony Alert” is activated, the warning system would notify New York residents about missing Black children and young Black women between the ages of 12 and 25, according to NPR. When an alert is issued, all electronic street signs in the area are used and the use of other media devices such as television, radio, social media and other platforms are encouraged to disseminate information about the missing person.

Should there be a special warning?

If you look at missing person data over the years, you’ll see that 40% of all missing person cases involve people of color. This is pretty shocking, especially considering that black people make up about 13% of the total U.S. population, according to the Office of Minority Health.

It’s completely understandable why other states like New York are paying more attention to the problem.

When you receive the warning

Remember that time is of the essence in any missing person case. Pay attention to the description provided and use any accompanying media to identify the missing person. Hopefully the Ebony Alert will help reunite more families with their missing loved one.