HUNTINGTON BEACH : Phone Cable Cut; 1,500 Lose Service
About 1,500 telephone customers, including a hospital, were left without service Wednesday after a construction crew working on a city project accidently severed a cable, officials said.
The accident caused Pacifica Community Hospital at 18792 Delaware St. to close its emergency room because officials at the hospital couldn’t reach physicians, and paramedics, police and firefighters couldn’t contact them.
Within two hours, however, telephone officials set up a mobile communication system for the hospital, using the company’s “war wagon” for the first time in the private sector.
The wagon, which is basically a 1984 Dodge van equipped with phones and radios, helped the hospital open communications and its emergency room.
“It was the first time we’ve ever used it other than for GTE, said Bob Holman, a radio technician for General Telephone. “Because of the success today, I would think it would be in demand in the future,” he said.
Phone service was expected to be restored by 8 a.m. today.
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