Can I be fired for job abandoment if I called out due to a transit strike, and no way of getting to work?

I work for a cell phone company and there is a transit strike. I live far from my store. I cant afford a cab as it would run me $60.00 a day round trip. I asked to be relocated to a branch that is in walking distance from my home. I was told this was not going to happen. I was told that if I did not appear for work, I could be fired for job abandonment. Paying the cab fare would be like working for free. How could it be conceder job abandonment if I call? Can they really do this. I tried to arrange transportation with one of the other employee's but I could not get to her home, and we do not work the same shift every day. I do not own a car and do not have family living in Phila that could assist me. I do not want to be fired, but I cant afford to put out that kind of money.