By Robin Culverwell

HATBORO, Pa. (CBS) — Verizon customers in the Hatboro-Horsham area found themselves with no landline telephone service today after a storm-related power problem.

Wires downed by overnight storms knocked out power at Verizon’s facility on Moreland Avenue in Hatboro, and backup generators worked — until about 6am.

Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski says 16-20,000 lines were put out of service — that’s about 10,000 customers, minimum.

“The customers in that area and the surrounding communities lost their landline phone service as well as Internet service as well as Fios Internet and Fios TV service,” he told KYW Newsradio.

Cellular phone service, he said, was not affected, so customers can use mobile phones to get help if needed.

Facility repairs — including replacing a large backup battery which was overheating — should be completed this afternoon, then systems have to “reset” themselves (much like a home computer), and that could take a few more hours.

Gierczynski says customers can expect their dial tones back about 3pm this afternoon.