Comment You're thinking about the wrong issue. (Score 1) 582
If you think your current POTS line is circuit-switched, or will work if your local exchange is disconnected from the network, think again.
A bigger concern is that while POTS isn't as robust as, say, cellular or VoIP against some sorts of damage it *will* work during a prolonged power outage (as long as the generator at the local exchange stays fuelled). VoIP won't, at all, unless there's power at the subscribers home. Cellular even if you can keep your cellphone battery topped off somehow, I wouldn't bet on power to the cell towers being as robust as to a local POTS exchange.