Re: Phone Lines . . .
Thank goodness for cell phones! I don't know what made the difference, but I used mine to call my friend in NYC and it worked! She works for a major publishing company in the city and had to take a bus home. Everyone seems to be taking the bus transit.
New Yorkers have only one television *news* source at the moment. Most of the cables as well as phone lines were directed from the twin towers. She'll call me back (thank goodness!)