KINGSTON, Jamaica—In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the Universal Service Fund (USF) is advising the public that its team is actively engaged in efforts to restore connectivity to communities affected by the storm.

Out of 320 sites, currently 109 Community Wi-Fi sites are experiencing outages due to the devastating impacts of the hurricane, USF said on Wednesday in a press release.

The USF urged residents who benefit from its Community Wi-Fi programme to be patient as the fund works to bring all affected sites back online.

It added however, that the restoration efforts are being hampered primarily by electrical outages from the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and infrastructure damage caused by the category 4 storm.

“We understand the importance of connectivity, especially during times of crisis. Our team is working tirelessly to resolve these issues and restore services as quickly as possible,” said Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the USF, Andrew McRae.

On July 3, 2024, Jamaica endured the impact of Hurricane Beryl, characterised by a dangerous combination of life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds. This storm ranks among the most powerful to affect Jamaica in over 15 years.

The USF advises affected residents to stay updated on the progress through its official communication channels. For further information or assistance, residents can contact the fund at +1(876) 906-1198 or info@usf.gov.jm.