GEORGETOWN, Del.- Phone service has been restored to most Verizon customers in downstate Delaware. The service was knocked out during the heavy rains two days ago.
A Verizon spokesperson said one of the company's facilities was damaged during a storm in New Castle County. A leak caused the damage, according to the spokesperson.
Crews are replacing the equipment, but some Verizon wireless and land line customers in Kent and Sussex counties may still not have any service. The outage is also affecting some Verizon customers in southern New Jersey, Philadelphia and parts of Maryland.
All service is expected to be fully restored by 11 p.m. Wednesday, the spokesperson said.
While service was down, many people in Sussex County were worried and left with no way to call for help. Donna Vandenheuval was driving to meet her daughter who had just gotten into a car accident when her signal dropped. Vandenheuval is one of many who only use cell phones, no land line for her family. She said after the outage she may buy a regular telephone now. "We probably shouldn't depend on them so much, I am going to consider a land line or another service like a track phone, to have for emergency purposes."
At the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center, officials said 75 per cent of their 911 calls come from cell phones. Director, Joe Thomas, said, "If you can't use your cell phone, use your land line. If you're out on the highway, flag a policeman down or someone to try to get help."
Thomas said although cell phones are helpful, you should always have a back up plan.
