A neighbor found the missing Butte woman walking near his home

A missing elderly woman was found safe Friday night, nine hours after she wandered from her Butte home, by a community member who spotted her walking near his property on South Mitzi Circle.

She had last been seen around 2:30 p.m., and had no phone or anything else that could track her. Much of the borough turned out to look. Mat-Su fire crews, thermal-drone operators from the Wasilla and Palmer police, MATSAR volunteers and K-9 teams searched trails, creeks, roadways and the airport, while Butte residents combed the paths themselves and posted notices online. It was 77 degrees and sunny through the afternoon.

A neighbor found her at 11:27 p.m. She had no obvious injuries. Troopers drove her home, where medics checked her over.

The search unfolded partly before a Silver Alert went out. The system notifies the public when a vulnerable adult is missing and believed to be in danger, and troopers note there's no waiting period to report someone missing.