06/08/2026
Still going through a shut down of systems at Chelan County.
Offices and departments at Chelan County today began the third week of a system-wide disruption that started over the Memorial Day weekend.
On May 24, we became aware of malware affecting our network. In an abundance of caution, we promptly shut down our network and began an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the event.
We continue to work with third-party specialists to not only determine what happened but also securely restore operations. This investigation is ongoing. We have also reported the incident to federal law enforcement.
Email, phone and computer systems remain down across the county’s departments. If you attempt to email us, you will not get a notice saying it arrived or bounced back. If you try to call a county office, the phone will be busy.
Our websites are also down. The county operates its main website as well as websites for Ohme Gardens, the Chelan County Fair, the Chelan County Expo Center and the Wenatchee River County Park.
We do not have a timeline for restoration of our systems.
However, county offices are open at the Wenatchee campus, as are Ohme Gardens, the Expo Center, the county park, the Dryden Transfer Station and the Moderate Risk Waste Facility. Only the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office counter is closed to the public.
Some offices have set up temporary email addresses or phone numbers, which are listed at Chelan County Government. Offices also have been regularly updating the public on such topics as jury duty, building inspections, recording and more on the county’s page.
If you need to speak with a county department, it is best to visit the office during regular business hours. Please remember that we are unable to look up items such as permits or applications. If you must make a payment, please bring the exact cash or a check.
“The restoration of our systems is going to feel like a slow process, but we must bring our systems back online safely and methodically,” said Commissioner Shon Smith, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. “Unfortunately, communication tools such as email and our telephone system may be one of the last things we can bring back online.”
Last week, the Board of County Commissioners, which is in session on Mondays and Tuesdays (our Zoom link is also down), declared a state of emergency in response to the system-wide disruption. The declaration allows for the board to sign any emergency service contracts without a formal bidding process.
Due to the ongoing nature of our investigation, we do not have any more information to share. We will provide relevant updates as we are able. We thank you all for your patience during this time.
