Bucks County emergency dispatch computer system downed by cyberattack; 9-1-1 system still active

A cyberattack has disrupted the Bucks County Department of Emergency Management’s computer-assisted dispatch program, a county spokesperson said Tuesday.

The system had been offline since Sunday afternoon, but 911 calls to county police, fire and rescue services are still being received and addressed by first responders.

County officials are being assisted by state and federal agencies in investigating the origin of the cyberattack, which remained unclear.

The computer-assisted system normally allows dispatchers to record and prioritize calls, and track emergency response in real time. While the system is down, the county is using a backup system to record the calls. With the computers not working, dispatchers are recording information from calls on pen and paper and relaying that information to first responders over the radio.

“I want both the public and our first responder partners to know that our 911 system is up and running – If you call us for an emergency response, our dispatchers will get you the help you need,” Bucks County Emergency Services Director Audrey Kenny said in a statement.

No calls have been missed using that temporary workaround, according to officials.

However, the county spokesperson said area departments are unable to estimate response times, and urged all personnel to limit radio broadcasts to essential communication in order to expedite service.

The cyberattack has also cut off county investigators’ access to databases, including the National Crime Information Center and the state’s Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network.

It remained unclear how long the system would remain offline as officials work to reinstate it.