VIDEO from OnStar and Synaptic Digital: 15 Years on the Job: OnStar Advisors Prep Proven Crisis Assist Services as Hurricane Approaches

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As hurricane Irene strengthens over the Bahamas and moves toward the eastern United States, OnStar Advisors in call centers across North America are monitoring storm conditions to provide concerned subscribers emergency support at the touch of the blue OnStar button.

See video from OnStar at: http://inr.synapticdigital.com/OnStar/SevereWeather

More than 2,000 OnStar Advisors are equipped to handle subscriber calls, with storm calls sent to qualified OnStar Emergency Advisors. These Advisors receive several weeks of specialized emergency training and can access information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

"Our Advisors have been a staple of OnStar's service since 1996," said Terry Inch. OnStar director subscriber services. "Responding to more than 1 million emergency calls and nearly 400 million cumulative service interactions have prepared OnStar Advisors to deal with any type of situation, no matter the severity. So, when a major hurricane threatens the east coast or an earthquake hits near the nation's capital, OnStar customers can take comfort in the fact that they're just a button push away from priority emergency assistance."

Irene is the first hurricane to threaten the United States in three years. More than 80 million people living along the Eastern Seaboard are potentially in Irene's path.  

In the event of a natural or manmade disaster, OnStar Emergency 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
• Provide up-to-date evacuation routes
• Locate open shelter, hospitals or available hotel accommodations
• Connect customers with their loved ones

OnStar Crisis Assist services were available earlier this week when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake rocked the Virginia/Washington D.C. area. Advisors provided information on local conditions and traffic closures to helped citizens get to their destinations safely.

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05NY11-0950

SOURCE Synaptic Digital; OnStar