These apps and Twitter accounts will help you prepare for Hurricane Matthew
The number of ways people communicate has exploded since 2005, when Florida was last hit with a major hurricane.
Now there are an array of ways to stay on top of where Hurricane Matthew is headed as it barrels toward the coast.
We've rounded up the best ways to collect important information about the storm, public announcements, and more, below.
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Apps to download
If you've got an iPhone and access to enough electricity to use some on an app, Hurricane Tracker may be a good one to download.
It costs $3.99, but offers real-time updates from the National Hurricane Center, including maps, It also allows users to send information on the app to others via text, Facebook or Twitter.
For Android, try downloading Hurricane Hound.
The ad-free version costs $1.99, and the ad-full one is free. The app comes with National Weather Service forecasts that include satellite photos as well as "public advisories," so your warning information is up to date.
Sign up for these alerts
The National Weather Service provides a massive list of different organizations that provide storm alerts.
One of the most relevant is The Weather Channel, which delivers free email, desktop and mobile alerts to anyone who signs up.
Orange County also has an emergency notification alert system you can sign up for, called OCFL Alert.
National Twitter accounts to follow
Many National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service Twitter accounts are probably worth following right now.
@NHC_Surge will track storm surges as Hurricane Matthew rolls into Florida.
@NHC_Atlantic, another hurricane center account, will provide followers with advisories and updates on where the hurricane is headed.
Other accounts worth a follow include @TropicalTidbits, @RyanMaue, the Capital Weather Gang, and Mashable's own @afreedma.
Local Twitter accounts
The Orlando Sentinel suggests following power and utility companies such as @OUCReliableOne, @InsideFPL, and @BrightHouseCare.
For local emergency planning updates, you can follow the account of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, @FLGovScott, as well as the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Other local accounts to follow, depending on where you live, include Florida county government accounts such as @OsceolaEOC, @lakeemergency and @seminolecounty.
Topics Apps & Software X/Twitter
Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.
