Irma: How people hit by hurricane are using GasBuddy to avoid fuel shortages

People can use GasBuddy's apps or web tool to find and report stations

Motorists evacuating Florida today after governor Rick Scott issued a state of emergency (EPA)

Florida residents are being advised to avoid experiencing fuel shortages ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma by using the GasBuddy app.

The app's Gas Availability Tracker lets users search for stations that have fuel.

It will also show which stations don't have fuel or power.

GasBuddy is available to download for free from Apple's App Store and Google Play.

People can also use GasBuddy's web tool, which can be found here.

People can also use the app to report a station with no gas or power.

GasBuddy explains: "A quick reporting button — which only appears if you are very close to a station — will prompt 'Does this station have gas or power?' Click on this button to report the gas and power situation at that station."

Florida Governor Rick Scott has advised residents to move out of the area as quickly as possible, and says "we're doing everything to get fuel to you as quickly as possible".

He's also called on the Governors of Alabama and Georgia to drop trucking regulations to make it easier for fuel to be carried into the city.