Why don't cell phones work during/after an earthquake?

Question

I live in S. Orange County, and there was an earthquake a little while ago, and none of our landlines, or even cell phones worked. Does anyone know why that happens?

Answer 1

cell towers and phone lines get shook, it interupts electronics and too many people get on the phone at once which overwelms the system. Unless you need to dial 911 please stay off the phone immediately following the quake. even 2 hours later the phone lines are still overwelmed

Answer 2

Same thing happened to me!!

the lines are busy cause people are calling everyone lol

Answer 3

Too many people calling at the same time.  Phones lines are severed.  Or maybe repeater towers have become nonoperational or have fallen down.

Answer 4

combinations of massive calling, antenna interruptions and temporary shift in electromagnetic resonance.

Answer 5

So many people trying to call and the system gets jammed. Cell phone towers get overloaded by the masses of callers. If one cell phone tower malfunctions or loses power other towers have to make up for that loss and get overwhelmed.

Answer 6

Because power lines and all that stuff gets disconnected or the service hasnt rebooted

Answer 7

it probably interrupts the signal

Answer 8

Cause A fat person rolled over the phone line and smooshed it.

Answer 9

The most likely reason is their networks are overloaded with everyone trying to make calls at the same time.

Answer 10

There have been no damage to any cell phone switches.

At Sprint PCS, our cell traffic jumped 800%, our switches couldn't handle the traffic.

Answer 11

probably a tower is down... mine is out to... u in So. Cal.

Answer 12

because the lines are filled because people are calling their friends/loved ones to see if they're fine.