The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says it has signed major agreements with two North American-based contracting firms to provide hundreds of linemen to assist in electricity restoration efforts if the island is impacted by a hurricane this year.

JPS says the move significantly bolsters its hurricane response capabilities by supplementing its local employee and contractor resources and the mutual assistance normally received from its Caribbean partners, with an experienced external contingent trained in large-scale restoration.

The initiative was formally launched at the JPS head office in Kingston yesterday during an onboarding session with Holland Power Services (HPS), one of the contracting firms.

As part of the visit, top executives from HPS participated in a comprehensive reconnaissance operation, receiving briefings on Jamaica’s electricity grid and visiting some of JPS’s key operational facilities.

JPS says it is undertaking several other initiatives to prepare for a hurricane, including pole replacements, equipment upgrades and vegetation management.

The utility company has also established partnerships with key stakeholders to improve communication and collaboration throughout the hurricane season.

Last July, when Hurricane Beryl hit the country, some parishes were without power for months.

That prompted calls for a swifter restoration response from the nation’s electricity company for future disasters.