SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Spokane County is in the final stages of selecting a new alert warning platform following issues with their previous provider, Code Red.
Certified Emergency Manager Chandra Fox briefed the commissioners about the selection process, stating the county started with five potential vendors and is now down to two finalists. The new platform is expected to be in place by the end of February.
The shift was prompted by a cyber attack that compromised the existing Code Red platform. Instead of repairing the platform, the company attempted to migrate clients to a new platform, which did not meet Spokane County’s needs. “We made the decision to just go ahead and break with them and find a new platform,” Fox said.
The county assures residents that data from the existing system will be transferred to the new platform, eliminating the need for re-registration. “We should be able to enter their existing data into the new system for them,” Fox said.
Fox emphasized the engagement of county IT and risk management in the selection process, ensuring the new system meets all technological and budgetary needs. “The pricing we’re looking at is well within the budget that we have set for the program,” Fox said.
A public education campaign will follow the implementation to inform citizens about the new system and encourage registration.
