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Chaos as California city declares state of emergency after hackers cripple 911 system

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A California city pulled the plug on its entire computer network after a cyberattackknocked out key systems, including 911 routing and police and fire dispatch.

Suisun City declared a state of emergency Saturday after malicious software breached its IT systems at about 5:45 a.m. Friday. The city’s response was drastic.

Suisun City features a waterfront, an historic downtown area, and many period neighborhoods. visitvallejo.com
Elected Council member Princess Washington.
Councilmember Princess Washington. suisun.com
Headshot of Mayor Alma Hernandez smiling in front of an American flag.
Mayor Alma Hernandez. suisun.com

Officials shut down the entire network to stop the threat from spreading and protect evidence for a federal investigation. Despite the digital chaos, Suisun City officials said residents are not facing an immediate danger.

A person in a dark hoodie sits in front of a laptop, their face obscured by shadow.
A hacker sits in front of his computer on Monday. Shutterstock / Minerva Studio
A 911 call station with multiple monitors displaying
A 911 call station. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Emergency crews remain on the streets, with city dispatchers routing calls through the Solano County dispatch center. Police and fire personnel are continuing to respond to calls for service.

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The attack also disrupted city records and other municipal services, leaving online services and internal operations temporarily unavailable.

The Suisun City Council voted unanimously Saturday morning to declare the emergency during an 11 a.m. special meeting.

Suisun City Hall in California, a light-colored building with a large dome and a US flag on top.
The city’s response was drastic. Michael – stock.adobe.com
Aerial view of a marina with many boats docked on both sides of a river, with buildings and a town beyond.
Suisun City, in Solano County, is located about 45 miles from both San Francisco and Sacramento.

The declaration, made under Government Code 8630, gives the city faster access to emergency support and allows it to recoup costs connected to the cyberattack.

Officials have also brought in the big guns, working with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, California Office of Emergency Services and other state and regional agencies.

The city has activated its Emergency Operations Center as investigators work to figure out how the malicious software got inside the network and who was behind it.

So far, officials have not revealed how the breach occurred or identified a suspect.

Suisun City, in Solano County, is located about 45 miles from both San Francisco and Sacramento.

For cybersecurity updates, please visit Suisun.com/CybersecurityUpdates.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖

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