DETROIT — In 2005, Cynthia and Ken Logan were evacuated from Hurricane Katrina. This experience taught them many lessons including the importance of having supplies ready and a plan in place if they needed to leave their home in a hurry.
They had just moved to a new home in Slidell, La. last September when weather stuck again. The Logans needed to evacuate to escape Hurricane Gustav. This time they knew what to expect and they had a new ally - OnStar Crisis Assist services.
“I didn’t have to worry about trying to find maps or looking up routes,” said Mr. Logan. “All we had to do was contact the OnStar Advisor and tell them where we were going, what the situation was, and they were able to give us the directions and help us out.”
OnStar reminds its subscribers in hurricane prone areas that a simple push of the OnStar button in GM vehicles will put them in contact with specially-trained Crisis Advisors 24/7 who will help with:
Emergency Services: Advisors can contact emergency responders if needed and direct them to the subscriber’s exact vehicle location, using OnStar’s embedded cellular calling system and Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology. OnStar Advisors can also use GPS technology to provide subscribers with evacuation routes.
Connection to loved ones: Using a more reliable connection than a cell phone, Advisors can connect subscribers to loved ones, family and friends
Central point of contact for assistance: Advisors can provide crisis information and centralized assistance for food, water, shelter locations and hotel accommodations along with information on road closures, power outages, and weather updates.
In addition, OnStar can assist state and federal agencies by providing them with real-time/on-the-ground crisis information from OnStar subscribers.
“I looked at a lot of navigation systems but I found the built-in system to be the most convenient,” Mr. Logan continued. “The OnStar system and particularly Crisis Assist is different because you get a live operator and that’s a big difference.”
Last year OnStar offered its full range of services, including navigation and hands-free calling, for subscribers affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike at no extra cost, regardless of their subscription plan. During the evacuations ahead of Hurricane Gustav, OnStar saw double the normal call volume in the affected areas. Hurricane Ike led to a tripling of calls above normal in the affected area. Over 90,000 calls were received during the evacuations.
“OnStar Advisors have the ability to offer personalized assistance to our subscribers when they need it most,” said Scott Kubicki, Vice President, OnStar Subscriber Services. “Residents who are undergoing an evacuation are encouraged to press the OnStar button on their GM vehicle for emergency assistance, information about the storm, shelter information and routing.”
Preparation is the best defense in any kind of crisis. For more information on OnStar Crisis Assist, visit http://www.onstar.com/crisis.