Electronics have their uses in spite of the distracted driving issues they cause.
OnStar is offering “Crisis Assist” services to its active subscribers in areas affected by Hurricane Earl. With the push of the OnStar button in General Motors vehicles, subscribers will be put in contact with specially-trained “Crisis Advisors.”
Crisis Assist services are currently being offered to subscribers along the coastal areas of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia. Since evacuations began on August 31, 2010, OnStar has seen a 40% increase over typical call volume in these areas.
OnStar’s crisis capabilities include:
- Emergency Services: Advisors can contact emergency responders if needed and direct them to the subscriber’s exact vehicle location, using OnStar’s embedded cellular system and Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology. OnStar Advisors can also use GPS technology to provide subscribers with evacuation routes.
- Central point of contact for assistance: Advisors can provide crisis information and centralized assistance for evacuation routing, food, water, shelter locations and hotel accommodations along with information on road closures, power outages, and weather updates.
- Keeping subscribers connected: Subscribers who are without power in their homes or cannot recharge cell phone batteries can push the OnStar blue button to stay connected.
- Reporting new incidents: OnStar encourages subscribers to act as “Good Samaritans” and contact an Advisor whenever they witness someone with an emergency need, so that the Advisor can inform appropriate public safety officials of the location of the incident.
- In addition, OnStar can assist state and federal agencies by providing them with real-time/on-the-ground crisis information from OnStar subscribers.
“Preparation is the best defense in any kind of crisis,” said Scott Kubicki, Vice President, OnStar Subscriber Services. “From the severe winter storms that pounded the northeast this past winter, to the devastating floods this year in Tennessee and the threat of the tsunami in Hawaii, OnStar is available round the clock to support its subscribers in need.”
For more information on OnStar Crisis Assist, visit www.onstar.com.