Thousands of Verizon customers in Westchester Square are struggling without their phones after a construction firm accidentally cut service to the area last Wednesday.

Officials say construction crews at Benson Street and Lane Avenue cut straight through five Verizon cables, affecting more than 2,000 people in the 10461 zip code. Residents in the Throgs Neck Senior Houses on Randall Avenue say they're worried about what they'll do in an emergency.

A spokesperson for Verizon says 40 men are working around the clock and through the holidays to restore service. With help from the Office of Emergency Management, the company also says phones are back up in critical areas, including police precincts and schools.