NATCHEZ — If you’re trying to stay weather aware by checking Facebook, you are doing it wrong.

That is the message local emergency management experts want to relay to residents following a tornado that touched down early Sunday morning in Adams County.

Adams County Emergency Management Director Robert Bradford said Monday the National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado hit the Cloverdale area. NWS representatives visited Adams County Monday to survey damage and reported wind speeds reached up to 115 mph, Bradford said.

The Enhanced Fujita scale, or EF-scale, rates the intensity of tornadoes based on damage, with EF0 being the weakest category and EF5 the strongest.

Residents receiving CodeRED telephone weather alerts should have been warned about the storm early Sunday morning.

The alerts, Bradford said, are the No. 1 way Adams County residents can stay aware of weather and emergency situations.

“The reason I push CodeRED is if anything happens and I need to get the word out, I can reach residents (easiest) via CodeRED, instead of trying to go to Facebook and reach everybody,” Bradford said.

Retired Adams County emergency management director Stan Owens agreed with Bradford, saying residents may be inclined to get on social media to stay informed about the weather.

“It’s not a bad place to do it, there’s just better ways,” Owens said.

An avid Facebook user, Owens said a CodeRED alert to his wife’s cell phone and then his house phone was how he was alerted to Sunday’s storm.

“CodeRED is the No. 1 thing Adams County has going for it for (that purpose),” Owens said. “Facebook is a good way to stay informed about what is going on after you have been alerted to the situation.”

Bradford said residents should also listen for outdoor weather sirens, purchase a NOAA weather radio and utilize local media to stay informed about weather.

“But sign up for CodeRED alerts, too,” he said. “That can save lives.”

To sign up for CodeRED alerts, visit adamscountyms.net/emergency-management. Required information includes first and last name, physical street address and primary phone number or numbers.