St. Mary’s County Emergency Services Moves To New Emergency Alert System After CodeRED Cyberattack

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County officials on Jan. 6 approved a new mass notification system designed to keep residents informed during emergencies, following the permanent shutdown of the county’s previous CodeRED platform after a cyberattack on the vendor last fall.

Director of St. Mary’s County Emergency Services Jennifer Aubert-Utz told the commissioners at the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County meeting that on Nov. 10, 2025, the county was notified that CodeRED had experienced a cyberattack. The incident was limited to the vendor, and officials said there was no indication that St. Mary’s County systems, networks or databases were compromised.

As a result of the attack, CodeRED permanently decommissioned its platform, disrupting the county’s ability to independently issue public emergency notifications through its own system. Aubert-Utz said emergency services staff, working alongside the county’s IT department, immediately began reviewing alternative vendors to restore full notification capabilities.

Amy Bledsoe, emergency manager, said the county was not without emergency alert options during the interim period. She explained that St. Mary’s County maintained the ability to issue Wireless Emergency Alerts, also known as IPAWS alerts, through the Maryland Joint Operations Center for large-scale emergencies. However, officials stressed the importance of having a county-managed system to handle localized alerts and routine public safety notifications.

After reviewing several alternatives, emergency services officials recommended Regroup as the new mass notification platform. Quinn said the system offers similar features to CodeRED, including reverse 911 calls, text messages and geographically targeted alerts, while also being more user-friendly for staff.

“Notifications for the citizens will look relatively the same as how they looked with CodeRED,” Bledsoe said. Residents can receive phone calls, text messages or both, depending on how they sign up.

The system allows residents to register either a landline or cellphone number and link it to their home address. Officials noted that alerts are sent based on the registered address rather than a resident’s real-time location, which allows the county to notify specific neighborhoods affected by situations such as water main breaks, police activity or other localized emergencies.

Bledsoe also said Regroup will allow residents to opt in to weather alerts issued directly by the National Weather Service, a feature similar to what was previously available under CodeRED.

Cost was another factor in the county’s decision. Aubert-Utz told commissioners that Regroup is significantly less expensive than CodeRED and fits within the county’s existing budget. Entering a multiyear agreement could further reduce costs, officials said, making the transition budget-neutral or potentially cost-saving. During the discussion, commissioners expressed concern about ensuring residents are informed during emergencies and supported moving quickly to restore the county’s full notification capabilities.

Commissioners unanimously approved the subscription agreement with Regroup and authorized the commission president to sign all related documents.

Officials emphasized that while some residents may automatically transfer over from the CodeRED database, public participation remains critical. Residents who have never called 911 or previously enrolled are encouraged to sign up once the new system is fully implemented to ensure they continue receiving emergency alerts.

Watch the full meeting below. This portion of the meeting begins at the 23:52 mark in the recorded session.

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