Enhances Emergency Assistance Capabilities DETROIT, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Subscribers of OnStar by GM know that help in crisis situations is only a button press away. During previous periods of severe weather, OnStar has extended to subscribers all services such as contact with loved ones, driving directions, or assistance with hotel reservations. This year, OnStar will bring emergency assistance to the next level to help subscribers who are in severe weather or other crises. Only OnStar by GM provides this unique combination of services. When facing a severe weather evacuation there are a lot of things on people's minds -- boarding up their homes, getting provisions ready and ensuring children and pets are ready to go. This doesn't always leave time for keeping up with the status of the evacuation routes and arranging shelter before leaving home. Recent technology and information upgrades enhance OnStar advisors' ability to provide critical information and services to subscribers affected by severe weather, natural disasters and civil emergencies. In the case of a wide-scale emergency, such as a hurricane, calls from the affected areas will be routed to a select group of advisors to help streamline the sharing of the most up-to-date information. "OnStar receives regular updates of severe weather warnings and natural disasters across the United States as well as certain civil emergencies and evacuation alerts," said Scott Kubicki, director, OnStar Subscriber Services. "This information is provided to our advisors to help keep subscribers in the impacted areas informed of things like evacuation routes and emergency shelters." The hurricanes and other severe weather of 2005 provided OnStar with information that has helped them prepare for this year's hurricane season. "The information that we share with the advisors has been upgraded as a result of the lessons we learned during last year's hurricane season," said Kubicki. "We took the information that our subscribers requested most frequently and have helped ensure we can get the right information to our advisors and subscribers when they need it." For example, during Hurricane Wilma, 20 percent of calls in Florida were for route assistance, 14 percent were to contact a relative and 11 percent were to make hotel reservations. When serious weather situations impact its subscribers, OnStar opens its services to all affected subscribers regardless of the service plans they have. OnStar's capabilities include: * OnStar's embedded cellular calling system and Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology allow OnStar advisors to pinpoint a subscriber's location when they contact an advisor. If crisis services are needed, the advisor can contact the emergency responders and direct them to the subscriber's location. * Advisors will have access to up-to-date information for things such as road closures, power outages and weather updates. * OnStar will offer detailed information on shelters and other lodging that will include if the locations are pet friendly. * OnStar encourages its subscribers to contact an advisor whenever they witness someone with an emergency need, so that they can inform appropriate public safety officials of the location of the incident. * Subscribers can get OnStar advisor assistance to link them with relatives and friends. * Subscribers who have in-vehicle, hands-free calling service can use it as an alternative means of staying connected if they are without power in their homes or cannot recharge their cell phone batteries. The best defense in a crisis of any kind is to be prepared. OnStar encourages its subscribers to follow the U.S. government's recommendations for preparing for crisis situations. In addition, OnStar recommends that subscribers have Hands-Free Calling minutes on their account and provide family and friends with their in-vehicle phone number to help them stay connected if an emergency should arise. About OnStar by GM OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services using wireless technology and the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network. OnStar is available on more than 50 GM models for 2006. Over the next few years, OnStar Service will become a standard feature for one year for nearly all of GM's retail customers in the United States and Canada, covering all segments and prices except for some commercial vehicles and the Chevrolet Aveo. OnStar safety and security services include automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle location assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance, remote door unlock, and GM Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics. OnStar Hands-Free Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated calls from their vehicle. Hands-free calling requires a Hands-Free Calling Enabled Vehicle, existing OnStar service contract and prepaid calling minutes. More information about OnStar can be found at http://www.onstar.com/ . DATASOURCE: General Motors Corporation CONTACT: Cristi Chojnacki, +1-313-667-0874, or Renee Rashid-Merem, +1-313-665-2790, , both of OnStar Web site: http://media.gm.com/ http://www.gm.com/ http://www.onstar.com/

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