What is the Kentucky Ian Alert & What Should You Do if You Get One?

July 15th, 2025, in the middle of the morning show, my phone started blaring with an emergency alert. It was so loud, I'm sure you heard it on the radio if you were listening. Although if you are in Kentucky, your phone was probably blaring too.

I was right in the middle of talking, and I have to be honest, it scared me to death! I wrapped up what I was saying, turned off the mic, and read the message. My first thought was that it was a weather alert, but it was something I hadn't ever seen before. An Ian Alert.

What is an Ian Alert?

The Department of Kentucky State Police, the Transportation Cabinet, the Division of Emergency Management, and media providers collaborate on various systems of alerts across the state.

Similar to an Amber Alert, the Ian Alert was put into effect by Governor Beshear on July 15th, 2024. It was created in honor of a boy named Ian Sousis, who was diagnosed with Autism at an early age. One day, while at a care facility in Northern Kentucky, he wandered away and went missing. Tragically, his body was later found in the Ohio River.

What is the Criteria For an Ian Alert?

Because he wasn't abducted, authorities could not send out an Amber Alert. That is why Ian's family fought for a new alert system with different guidelines. Here is what the statute constitutes as criteria for an Ian Alert:

"No public alert using the system shall be issued unless the department, in consultation with the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the missing child was reported, has determined:

(a) That the physical safety of the missing child may be endangered;

(b) That public notification is the most appropriate method of recovering the missing child in a safe and efficient manner;

(c) The geographic area in which the notification shall be made."

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What Should You Do if You Get an Ian Alert?

According to various studies, approximately 50% of children with autism have urges to "elope." Meaning they have a tendency to leave their homes, schools, whatever safe place they are in, to go explore or escape overstimulating environments.

As you can imagine, this could lead to dangerous situations. Nearby street traffic, discovering harmful objects like sharp tools or weapons, getting lost, and encountering unfavorable strangers are all possible scenarios. One of the most common temptations for a child with autism is a body of water.

If we ever get an Ian Alert in our area, it means that local law enforcement is searching for a child (someone under 18 years old), and we should immediately check nearby pools, lakes, streams, etc.