Here's Who To Follow For Hurricane Joaquin Info

Citizens up and down the East Coast are facing some uncertain times ahead, thanks to the approach of Hurricane Joaquin. Now being classified as a Category 4 hurricane, meaning its wind speeds have risen to a harrowing 130 to 150 miles per hour. And although its course northward is no longer expected to include landfall, according to The Weather Channel, its still very important to be prepared and aware as updates roll in. That being so, here are 10 Twitter accounts you should follow for Hurricane Joaquin safety news.

In addition to some worthwhile weather-tracking services, these are the accounts that officials within potentially affected areas — from New York to New Jersey to Rhode Island — as well as some government agencies are encouraging people to follow. Obviously, the United States may get lucky and have Joaquin miss it entirely, but in the event something unexpected happens, or its proximity to the coast alone causes some flooding, you'll want to have quick access to updates.

Hurricanes, needless to say, are no joke — the Bahamas have been slammed by heavy rains, flooding, and power outages for days thanks to Joaquin. Here are some sources that'll help keep you in-the-know.

1. National Hurricane Center Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic)

The NHC Atlantic Ops is a good choice for fresh information on Joaquin-related weather incidents, and was a recommended follow by the Department of Homeland Security.

2. Federal Emergency Management Agency (@FEMA)

In the event of a major emergency stemming from Joaquin, FEMA is a natural first place to check.

3. National Weather Service (@NWS)

The NWS made New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's Twitter list of storm preparedness follows, along with dozens more — you can check it out here.

4. Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (@RhodeIslandEMA)

This recommendation came from Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo on her Twitter feed Thursday.

5. New York City Emergency Management — Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC)

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio took to Twitter to urge citizens to follow Notify NYC for Joaquin-related info on Friday.

6. FEMA Region 2 (@FEMARegion2)

FEMA Region 2, another one of the follows on Christie's list, covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

7. American Red Cross (@RedCross)

The longstanding, venerated Red Cross is a reliable follow if you're seeking updates about severe weather emergencies.

8. New Jersey Office Of Emergency Management (@NJOEM)

Yet another of Christie's suggestions, this is a very good option for citizens of New Jersey to events — there's been a state of emergency declared pending possible flooding.

9. Weather Underground (@Wunderground)

As a supplemental source to stay informed about Joaquin, Weather Underground is a solid source of useful, highly specific and interesting information.

10. The Weather Channel (@Weatherchannel)

Needless to say The Weather Channel will be on top of the Joaquin story until it's run its course. After all, it's one of the biggest, most mainstream sources for storm coverage out there, and Joaquin is the biggest U.S. weather story at the moment.