XM Satellite Radio, a satellite radio provider with more than 2.1 million subscribers, announced last Friday (September 10) that it has launched a new channel, XM Emergency Alert (XM Channel 247), dedicated to providing critical, updated information before, during and after natural disasters, weather emergencies and other hazardous incidents to listeners across the country.

Utilizing XM’s nationwide broadcast system, the new XM Emergency Alert channel delivers key survival information such as evacuation routes, shelter locations and updated weather emergency information for impacted areas.

XM Emergency Alert provides data from a variety of national and local government sources, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, American Red Cross, local police and fire departments and eyewitness reports.

The XM Emergency Alert channel is produced by a dedicated staff for instant, around the clock information during serious local emergencies.

“We are pleased to add XM Emergency Alert to our line up, especially during this extremely active hurricane season when the benefits of updated emergency information can make a difference,” said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio.

“XM Emergency Alert combined can be an invaluable resource during an emergency. We’re using advanced technology to give listeners the information they need, when they need it, particularly when local television and radio broadcasts may not be available. With XM Emergency Alert, you can stay informed and stay safe.”

XM already offers the XM Instant Traffic and Weather service which exclusively provides:

– 21 channels of traffic and weather information about the nation’s most
traffic-congested metropolitan areas

– 24-hour, seven-day-a-week reports for each market, offering in-depth,
continually updated information

– Travel times for major roadways, provided by Traffic Pulse technology on the ground in local markets

– Average speeds for major roadways, provided by Traffic Pulse technology on the ground in local markets

– Amber Alerts and other important public safety and homeland security notifications on the air and displayed in text form on the radio display

Twenty-one traffic and weather channels are available to XM subscribers nationwide including: Atlanta, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Diego, Seattle, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Boston, Dallas- Ft. Worth, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.