The City of Melbourne's CodeRED mass notification system is offline following a cybersecurity incident, leaving residents without access to critical emergency alerts. City officials confirmed the outage Monday, stating the system is currently unavailable and efforts are underway to restore it. The incident has raised concerns about how residents will receive urgent information during emergencies.
City Manager Greg Hance said in a statement that the cybersecurity breach was discovered late Sunday and immediately triggered an investigation. 'Our priority is restoring CodeRED as quickly as possible while ensuring the security of our systems,' Hance said. The city has not disclosed details about the nature of the cyberattack or whether data was compromised.
Residents are being directed to check the city's official website and social media accounts for updates. The city's website has been updated with a banner alerting visitors to the outage and providing alternative ways to stay informed. Emergency management officials emphasized that non-critical notifications will be handled through other channels, but life-saving alerts may be delayed.
The outage has prompted questions about the city's cybersecurity preparedness. Local IT consultant Maria Lopez, who has worked with municipal agencies in Brevard County, said the incident highlights the need for regular system audits. 'Any disruption to emergency communication is a serious issue,' Lopez said. 'It's crucial for cities to have backup systems in place.'
As of Tuesday morning, the city had not provided a timeline for restoring CodeRED. Officials urged residents to sign up for email alerts and follow the city's social media pages for real-time updates. The incident comes as Brevard County agencies increasingly rely on digital systems for public safety communications.