Arizona Suffers Internet Blackout

The Daily Mail reports:

Tens of thousands of people were cut off from phone and Internet for more than 12 hours in Arizona on Wednesday.  

Vandals cut a fiber-optic line located in a desert north of Phoenix that provides internet and phone services to tens of thousands of people throughout the state. 

Although most communication services were restored after being down for six and a half hours, some people were not connected until early on Thursday morning. 

A Phoenix Police Department officer said vandals had completely cut through the cable, which is located in the desert north of the capital in an area inaccessible to vehicles. 

Meanwhile, even in cities 100 miles away from Phoenix, ATM machines stopped working, businesses couldn't process credit cards and residents said they felt lost without the internet.  

Emergency services were also affected in a number of cities.  

Prescott Valley had to supplement 911 service with 'handheld radios and alternate phone numbers'.  

Water and sewer facilities in the region also had to switch to manual operations.
Emergency lines were also limited in Yavapai County and authorities were unable to access law enforcement databases.  

Read the whole thing.