You know that sound. That jarring, high-pitched screech that makes everyone in the grocery store aisle freeze and fumble for their phones. It’s the sound of a community jumping into action. But today, things are quiet.
As of Sunday, January 18, 2026, there is no active amber alert today in utah.
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Honestly, that’s the news we always want to hear. No news is good news when it comes to child abductions. But just because your phone isn't vibrating off the nightstand doesn't mean the system is dormant. In fact, Utah just marked a massive milestone this week—30 years of the Amber Alert program. Since it launched here in 2002, we’ve seen 77 alerts involving 97 children.
Most of them came home.
The Silver Alert in West Valley City
While the Amber Alert system is silent today, there is a different kind of emergency unfolding. Yesterday, January 17, 2026, authorities issued a Silver Alert for 71-year-old Debra Jean Brown.
She was last seen in West Valley City near 1580 West Parliament Avenue. Police are worried. She has a medical condition that leads to confusion. If you're out driving today, keep an eye out for a woman in blue jeans and a purple checkered jacket. She might be wearing a red or orange wig.
It's a reminder that while child abductions get the most "loud" alerts, the state's notification system is working constantly for our seniors too.
Why You Didn’t Get an Amber Alert Today in Utah
People often get frustrated. "I saw a missing kid on Facebook, why didn't my phone go off?"
The Utah Department of Public Safety is incredibly picky. They have to be. If they buzzed our phones for every runaway or custodial dispute, we’d all turn the alerts off within a week. That’s called "alert fatigue," and it's dangerous.
To trigger an amber alert today in utah, the police must confirm three specific things:
- The child is 17 or younger.
- Law enforcement believes the child is in imminent danger of serious injury or death.
- There is enough descriptive info (like a license plate or suspect description) that the public can actually help.
Basically, if they don't have a car to look for, they usually won't blast the emergency signal. They don't want us looking at nothing.
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The Recent Successes
We've had some close calls lately. Just this past November, a 13-year-old girl from Ogden went missing. Her mother’s plea was heartbreaking. But the system worked. An alert went out, the public locked in, and the girl was found safe while the suspect was caught.
Back in March, two toddlers disappeared in Riverdale. Same story. Photos hit the news, the Amber Alert went live, and hours later, those kids were back in safe arms.
What to Do Instead of Searching
Since there isn't an active amber alert today in utah, what should you actually be doing?
First, check the Utah Silver Alert status. Debra Jean Brown is still missing as of this morning. If you see someone matching her description, call 801-840-4000 or just hit 911.
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Second, make sure your phone settings are actually ready for the next real one. Sometimes, during software updates, people accidentally toggle off "Government Alerts." Go into your notifications and make sure "AMBER Alerts" and "Emergency Alerts" are turned on.
Actionable Steps for Utahns Today
- Save the Number: Put the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) or your local dispatch number in your phone.
- Share the Silver Alert: Since the Silver Alert for Debra Jean Brown is active, sharing her photo from official West Valley City Police social media pages does more than just "thoughts and prayers." It puts eyes on the ground.
- Verify Before Sharing: If you see a "Missing Child" post on a random Facebook group, check alert.utah.gov first. Don't spread old or fake information that clogs up the actual search efforts.
The system is only as good as the people watching. Today, we're lucky—no children are currently listed in an active abduction alert in the Beehive State. Let’s keep it that way by staying
informed.