One interesting thing is that a specific twitter search sorted by latest, often produces very decent localized news/reports during some events. One of the first things I turn to confirm the scale of an event, for example blackouts, fire, or meteoroid sightings.

Also there are specific feeds on twitter for some cities that report police/fire scanners. If you ever get a power outage you can track the scale within minutes, by looking at which addresses/intersections have stuck elevator reports.