[Chickensoup]

was it really cut or just overloaded?

That is the reason I am going back to landline.

[ConservativeMan55]

No, I don’t think overloaded.

I don’t think hours before the storm, the phones would be overloaded like that.

Maybe an hour before, during, or minutes before.. but no hours before.

[CGASMIA68]

People misunderstand the technology behind cell service.
Everyone cant talk at one time.Providers bet on a %age only going “off hook” at one time.At times like OK disaster that's what happened.The number of people trying to contact others before the storm maxed out the T1’s carrying the calls.
Although POTS aerial service in this area probably took a hit, under ground probably did OK.

Keep that land line for emergencies

[backwoods-engineer]

That is the reason I am going back to landline.

(head in hands)

Please, please talk to somebody who understands the tech behind this before saying this to anyone else. It makes you sound ignorant.

Today's "landlines" use the exact same infrastructure as cell phones do; fiber optics. The box in your neighborhood that translates "phone lines" (which really don't exist any more beyond the neighborhood level) into fiber optic is just as vulnerable as the cell infrastructure. More, actually, because the cell phone towers generally have backup batteries.

If you want true redundant communications, please study up and get your ham radio license, and join a local ham radio club so they can show you what to buy.

[kjam22]

Cell service is overloaded right now. It is hit and miss. I’m one mile from ground zero