SEATTLE — It's been 40 years living with a picturesque background for Valerie and Mike Cunningham.
"The loudest noise you hear is maybe an airplane going over once in awhile," said Valerie.
But their oasis has become more of a desert.
"We're like an island out here. We have to drive at least 12-15 miles to get cellular service," said Valerie Cunningham.
CenturyLink lines were cut in Cumberland, with thieves taking the metal and leaving many households without a landlines or internet access.
It's an isolated feeling for neighbors like Leland Sutton, who has a pacemaker.
"Yeah, I feel stranded out here," Sutton said.
"The fact of the matter is if anything happens out here, we can't get ahold of anyone out here to report it or get assistance," Sutton added.
On Friday, Mike had to rush Valerie to the hospital.
"I actually thought I was having a heart attack," said Valerie Cunningham.
Though it ended up being a minor medical emergency, calling 911 wasn't an option.
"There's nothing to do, you're kind of helpless," said Mike Cunningham.
In a statement, CenturyLink said in the last two months, there have been eight thefts in the Black Diamond area, adding that service should be restored on Friday.
The Cunningham's said CenturyLink gave a much later repair date, so they opted for a different, more expensive service.
"We've got to find a better way because if this stuff is happening all the time or often, we can't take that chance," said Mike Cunningham.