Gardner pauses Code Red alerts after contractor breach; backup system in place
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Summary
Gardner City said its emergency-alert contractor, Code Red, suffered a cyberattack that crashed the vendor’s database; the city decommissioned its Code Red instance, is using a backup alert method and warned residents they may need to re-register when the rebuilt system is available.
Unidentified Speaker (Mayor) announced that the city’s emergency-alert vendor, Code Red, experienced a cyberattack that crashed the contractor’s database and forced the city to decommission its Code Red instance. “The private system was hacked. The city itself was not hacked,” the mayor said, adding city officials are in talks with Code Red and will keep residents updated.
The city said it has a backup alert system in place for urgent messages and that residents may need to register again after the vendor rebuilds its platform. The mayor said the city decommissioned its Code Red account “out of an abundance of caution” while maintaining alternative notification methods.
Officials urged patience and said they would issue updates when Code Red provides a timeline for restoration. The mayor said the city will consider a special mayor’s update if the vendor provides substantive developments.
No ordinance or formal vote was recorded; the mayor described this as an operational response. Residents seeking updates were told to monitor the city’s website and social channels and to use the temporary backup alert options until the vendor’s system is restored.