Shoothill develops Facebook flood warning app
A Facebook-based flood warning system has gone live after England and Wales experiences the heaviest rainfall for April on record.
Developed by Shoothill and using live data from the Environmental Agency, the FloodAlerts app offers real-time and personalised updates to users using Facebook.
The app allows users to receive flood warnings and alters, with personalised alerts monitoring at risk areas around their homes on travel routes.
Shoothill managing director, Rod Plummer, explained: "FloodAlerts is the world’s first graphical representation of flood warning data on Facebook which provides localised updates every 15 minutes, keeping users informed about the potential flood risks in their area on a Microsoft Bing Map.
“We created FloodAlerts on Facebook for the simple reason that social media is now becoming the first choice of many people to get the latest news affecting their lives. With more than 50 per cent of the UK population now having a Facebook account, and the other 50 per cent probably knowing someone who has one, it seemed logical to us that the delivery of flood warnings through the site is a simple but effective way to help get the warnings to people who need them fast, accurately and through a medium they are already using.”
Craig Woolhouse, head of flood incident management at the Environment Agency, said: “Being prepared is vital to help reduce the risk of flooding. With over five million people living or working in areas at risk from flooding across England and Wales, we are urging communities to use the new application, alongside our existing Floodline and website updates, to keep one step ahead of future floods.”