KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the approach of Tropical Storm Matthew, Jamaica Public Service says it has activated its emergency operations to facilitate timely response to any damage to its power delivery infrastructure.

“JPS began preparing for the hurricane season from the start of the year,” said Winsome Callum, director of Corporate Communications. “An important part of the preparation is our ongoing structural integrity programme, which involves lightning mitigation as well as upgrading equipment and other aspects of the network. We also ensure that adequate material and other resources are in place to facilitate repair and replacement of equipment that may be damaged during a hurricane.”

The JPS corporate communications director, in a news release Wednesday, reminded customers that they may lose their power supply as a result of the storm.

“Weather conditions associated with the system are likely to include strong winds and rains. These may cause power lines to snap, trees to fall on power lines, and landslides which may cause poles to be dislocated,” she said.

JPS advised that in the event of outages, JPS teams will first need to make the necessary checks and assessment of damage to the electricity network, before restoration efforts can get under way. The company said depending on the severity of the storm’s impact and damage to the power delivery infrastructure, customers may be out of power for an extended period of time.

JPS also urged the public to stay safe before, during, and after the storm.

“It is very important for persons to take the necessary precautions to protect life and property. We encourage customers to stock up on emergency supplies, stay indoors, and stay away from fallen poles and power lines,” Callum said. “We all have to make safety a top priority.”