The Weather Channel and Travelers announced that they are partnering to launch “My Friends’ Weather,” the first Facebook Open Graph application on weather.com. The new tool will allow users to see whom among their friends and family may be affected by breaking weather news.
Through Breaking Now weather alerts on weather.com, users can find out when major events happen – such as threatening tropical storms, disastrous tornado touchdowns and other news – and then be the first to share that information seamlessly via Facebook, directly to the people who may be impacted.
At the same time, through the partnership with Travelers, visitors to weather.com will see useful tips created by Travelers’ Risk Control Property Specialists that can help individuals and businesses prepare for impending storms and prevent property damage. After the storms pass, Travelers will also deliver information that can help individuals and businesses who have been impacted by severe weather – helping them to understand the steps to mitigate damage and begin the recovery process.
“Travelers is pleased to offer our weather-related risk insights and tips through this innovative partnership to help consumers and businesses understand the steps to prepare their property for severe weather and recover from its effects,” said Lisa Caputo, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Communications. “At Travelers, we believe it is our responsibility to share our knowledge in the interest of public safety and community support, and this effort helps to achieve that.”
The first phase of “My Friends’ Weather” invites users to connect their Facebook accounts with weather.com via Open Graph. Then, they will be able to see friends affected by Breaking Now alerts, which display as a red bar across the top of weather.com when activated, and to share the Breaking Now alert directly with their individual friends along with a comment.
Future phases of “My Friends’ Weather” will expand this functionality to local weather pages, where users will be able to see friends who live in an area and share the day’s weather or local weather alerts to them. Users will also be able to follow weather for their friends in any city and initiate conversations around the weather.
Through another partnership with The American Red Cross, the Weather Channel will incorporate additional topical content, relevant tips, and a platform for disaster-related money donations.
Learn more about “My Friends’ Weather” at www.weather.com/myfriendsweather.