RICHMOND, Va. -- It’s been a July to forget for Frances Nunnelly. After a recent storm, the 95-year-old says she lost power and her Verizon phone and cable service at her Richmond home.
“For about three days we could not get out of the house,” said Frances.
The power was restored after a couple days, but it’s has been nearly two weeks since she’s been able to watch her favorite shows and call loved ones.
Frances said she has felt alone ever since a storm raged through her Cherokee Road neighborhood 11 days ago.
“You’re so used to having these things that when you don’t have any of them you’re just lost,” Frances added.
Frances Nunnelly
The Holocaust survivor from Austria admitted she has lived through more difficult circumstances, but said she does feel isolated and trapped.
Frances said the inability to call her daughter, Heidi, in an emergency is the most frightening.
“Sometimes when I’m alone in house I would not have any way of getting in touch with anybody,” she said about the 11 days without phone service.
Frances’ other frustration is going unplugged from her favorite daytime TV shows.
“It sort of calms me down, so I missed that,” she explained.
Heidi Nunnally said her frustration grew after she made numerous calls and received empty promises from Verizon.
Heidi Nunnelly
“A couple of days is inconvenient. Eleven days is above and beyond that,” Heidi said about her mother’s lack of phone and cable service.
But Friday, Frances received a welcomed knock at the door when Verizon showed up to fix her cable and TV problems.
“They showed up. Finally,” said Heidi.
The phone should be working now,” said the Verizon technician.
Heidi said she is comforted knowing her aging mother is once again just a phone call away.
Frances Nunnelly
“Extremely happy now I can pick up the phone, call her and know she is ok and go about my work,” she said.
For France, listening to a simple dial tone is music to hear ears.
“I have a list of phone calls that I need to make,” she said.
