Phone companies prepare for storm power outages

Cell-towers are dependent on electric power from the grid, but many of them have backup batteries, and in some cases generators that can power the antennas independently for longer. Prolonged power outages, such as those after Superstorm Sandy, can bring down cell service in an area.

Verizon Wireless prides itself on having at least eight hours of backup power at all its cell towers, and spokesman Tom Pica said technicians were busy making sure the generators that kick in once batteries are depleted had fuel.