[1]Due to the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Japan, tsunami warnings were sent out across regions facing the Pacific Ocean. According to GM News [2] OnStar offered Crisis Assist services to the subscribers in areas that could be in danger from the tsunami event. Crisis Assist services were offered to subscribers in Hawaii, along with coastal areas of the western United States from southern California to Alaska.
By pressing the OnStar button in a GM vehicle, subscribers in the potentially affected regions were able to speak with specifically trained Crisis Advisors. Once in contact with OnStar, the advisors are able to locate your vehicle using the built-in GPS to inform subscribers of the nearest evacuation routes. Crisis Advisors can also alert subscribers to the nearest evacuation shelters, locations for both water and food, as well as hotel locations. This safety feature could potentially save lives in northern California and further into Cascadia subduction zone in the Pacific Northwest where tsunamis have been known to occur; in fact this region has a tsunami warning system is already in place, but it never hurts to access to emergency assistance in times of peril.
Along with providing evacuation routes, OnStar Crisis Advisors are able to pass along information regarding road conditions, weather reports and power outages; even if a subscriber loses power in their home, they will still be able to reach OnStar for emergency assistance. OnStar is able to provide information directly to state and federal authorities if a subscriber is in an emergency situation or they see someone who is in need of emergency assistance. Regardless of the subscriber’s subscription plan, OnStar offers hands free calling and navigation assistance at no additional cost during crisis events to affected customers.