| Q1. | What is Crisis Assist? |
| A1. | OnStar has created a new service, Crisis Assist, to provide a quick and central point of contact for subscribers seeking emergency assistance and information during a crisis situation. In the event of a major hurricane, tornado, flood, snow storm, or other crisis, OnStar can help. We can help you stay connected to your loved ones and provide up-to-date crisis information (such as food, water, and shelter locations) and evacuation routes to get you out of harm's way. GM and OnStar are proud to provide this assistance. We're there when it counts the most. |
| Q2. | How can OnStar help me in a crisis? |
| A2. | In a crisis, OnStar opens its services to all affected subscribers regardless of the service plan they have. OnStar can provide communication to loved ones and family members, real-time crisis information and centralized assistance (food, water, medical supply, hospital availability, shelter location), evacuation routes to get you back on the road and out of harm's way, real-time hotel availability, and timely information in and around affected areas. |
| Q3. | Does anyone else offer this service? |
| A3. | No. Crisis Assist is a unique OnStar service offered on General Motor vehicles to assist our subscribers in times of crisis. Our specially-trained Crisis Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide assistance and information if a crisis occurs in your area. They can recommend the best course of action before, during, and after crisis events. |
| Q4. | What is considered a crisis? In what situations can I rely on Crisis Assist? |
| A4. | Crisis events involve a major weather, natural resource or technology disaster event that affects a large population of people, has a broad geographic impact, and/or is newsworthy. You can rely on OnStar Crisis Assist in the following crisis situations:
Weather/Natural Disasters
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Winter Storm Warning
Tornado
Earthquake
Wild and Industrial Fires
Flood
Hurricane
Landslide
Tsunami
Volcanic Eruption
Natural Resource Crises
Energy/Power outage
Gas/Pipeline Damage
Hazardous Material Situation |
| Q5. | How do you know when there's a crisis in my area? Who tells OnStar that there's a crisis? |
| A5. | OnStar receives severe weather warnings and regular updates on natural disasters across the United States. This information is provided to our advisors to help keep subscribers in the affected areas informed of evacuation routes and emergency shelter information. |
| Q6. | Where will you tell me to go to get away from the crisis? |
| A6. | OnStar works with local and state governments to gather and communicate evacuation routes away from the crisis. In addition, OnStar will seek appropriate shelter or hotel accommodations upon request. Evacuation routes are set at the state and county level. The local officials have predetermined evacuee areas that have been set up to handle evacuation from crisis affected counties. OnStar's primary concern is to get the subscriber out of harms way. |
| Q7. | Should I call OnStar when there's a crisis? |
| A7. | If you are in a crisis affected area and you need assistance, press the blue or red button to get appropriate assistance. In a crisis, you can rely on OnStar to provide critical timely information and assistance services to guide you to safety. Additionally, OnStar encourages its subscribers to act as a Good Samaritan 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. |
| Q8. | What button should I press on my OnStar to get Crisis Assist services? |
| A8. | Please press the blue or red OnStar button to access an OnStar Advisor. In the event of a crisis situation, specially trained crisis advisors will provide you with timely and critical information and assistance. |
| Q9. | How will you keep me connected to my loved ones? |
| A9. | OnStar can attempt to connect you with your loved ones during a crisis. Whether you are in the crisis area yourself, or trying to reach a loved one in a crisis area, OnStar will attempt to call your loved one. We can do this by calling the OnStar equipped vehicle or by calling someone for you. Subscribers who are without power in their homes or cannot recharge cell phone batteries can push the OnStar blue button to keep connected to loved ones. There is a better chance of making calls in areas where you can't with a cell phone with OnStar Hands Free calling. OnStar Hands Free Calling is designed to give you better reception and fewer dropped calls than a cell phone. |
| Q10. | If I need to evacuate, can OnStar tell me what shelters will take pets? |
| A10. | Yes, OnStar offers information on shelters and lodging that are pet friendly. |
| Q11. | How will I know if I am in a crisis affected area? |
| A11. | If you have any questions related to a crisis about the area in which you are currently driving, do not hesitate to contact OnStar by pressing your OnStar button and we will provide you with any information we have about the area you are currently traveling in. In addition, if you have a XM equipped vehicle, you may also turn your radio to XM Channel 247. This is the Emergency Channel for XM Radio and is available even without a subscription. |
| Q12. | What happens if I live in a non crisis affected area but I drive into an affected area? |
| A12. | Simply press your OnStar button if you would like information about the crisis or if you need assistance. |
| Q13. | When will Crisis Assist service be available? |
| A13. | Crisis Assist services are currently available to any OnStar subscriber and OnStar Advisors are available for crisis information and assistance. Simply push the blue or red button. |
| Q14. | Is there an additional cost to use the Crisis Assist service? What service plan is Crisis Assist included with? |
| A14. | OnStar Crisis Assist is included with both the Safe & Sound and Directions & Connections service plans. There is no additional cost associated with this service. For additional information on service plans visit OnStar.com. |
| Q15. | Why is OnStar offering Crisis Assist? |
| A15. | General Motors has been a leader in assisting communities facing a crisis. GM assistance takes many forms such as vehicle donations, monetary donations and matching the contributions of employees. OnStar has been responding to emergency calls and air bag deployments for nearly 11 years and brings this vast experience to the next level by offering help during a crisis. At any given point in time, our subscribers could be affected by a major crisis event. In order to assist those affected by a potential crisis, OnStar has developed the Crisis Assist service. |
| Q16. | Is Crisis Assist available in Canada? |
| A16. | Yes, the service is available throughout Canada and United States. |
| Q17. | Is Crisis Assist available in other languages? |
| A17. | Yes, Spanish and French speaking OnStar Advisors are available to support Crisis Assist services. Simply press the blue OnStar button and let the advisor know of your language preference. |
| Q18. | Where can I find more information on Crisis Assist? |
| A18. | Information on Crisis Assist can be found on www.onstar.com. |
This is the first place to find answers to the most common questions asked about OnStar. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact us or call us directly at 1.888.4.ONSTAR (1.888.466.7827). Or if you are an OnStar subscriber, push the blue OnStar button in your vehicle.
