California city declares State emergency as cyber attacks hit 911 service

Suisun City, a California municipality in Solano County, has declared a state of emergency following a cyberattack that crippled several key public services, including sections of its 911 emergency call system. The attack, which occurred on August 7, was attributed to malicious software that infiltrated the city's information technology systems around 5:45 am, prompting officials to shut down the city's entire computer network to prevent further damage and safeguard digital evidence.

While the exact nature of the malware and the perpetrators remain undisclosed, 911 calls were rerouted through the Solano County dispatch center, ensuring emergency services continued uninterrupted. The attack also impacted city records, online services, and other internal systems, causing temporary unavailability of several municipal services.

The Suisun City Council approved the state of emergency in a special meeting on Saturday, enabling the city to tap into additional resources and seek reimbursement for cyberattack-related expenses. Federal agencies, including the FBI, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the California Office of Emergency Services, are cooperating with local authorities to investigate the breach.

Suisun City, situated approximately 45 miles from San Francisco and Sacramento, has activated its Emergency Operations Center to restore affected systems while maintaining the availability of essential emergency services for residents.