FORT STEWART, Ga. - Coastal Georgia is no stranger to inclement weather. Just three days ago, the afternoon of June 4th and four days after the start of hurricane season, the Doppler radar indicated a tornado warning for Fort Stewart and surrounding areas. The severe thunderstorm was accompanied by tornado-like behavior, a quarter-to-golf ball size hail storm, strong winds and heavy rain. The storm snapped mature trees -- some falling on residential homes, knocked-out power lines, flooded areas and left behind debris.

Nature's elements like the recent Tropical Storm Beryl that roared through the east coast, spawning a tornado which destroyed homes in the Carolinas, come at a moment's notice.

Severe weather emergencies like the issued tornado warning and the tropical storm are reasons why annual briefings are held.The Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security held Emergency Preparedness briefings for the Marne community at the Main Post Chapel, May 31.

"The Emergency Preparedness briefing, every year we talk about severe weather like hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorms," Emergency and Contingency Planning Officer Tony Fleeger, said. "We're also including the Shelter in Place briefing and also an Active Shooter incident briefing like how to prepare yourself in your area in case an incident like those is to occur. These are situations that can affect the community at any given time."

During the briefing, Fleeger reflected on the difference between weather watches and warnings.

He shared that a watch is "issued when conditions . . . pose a possible threat to a specified coastal area" while a warning is "issued when conditions . . . are expected in a specified coastal area."

"We're focusing on these [topics] because [June 1st] begins hurricane season," Fleeger said. "Shelter in Place, it needs to be put out, but we haven't gotten it out there like we want to. We believe this is a good setting to bring out [these topics] and also with active shooters, you've got to be prepared."

Fleeger said that one must be prepared and have a plan in the case of any emergency, which is just what one Fort Stewart professional did when the weather channel issued a tornado warning for the area.

Thea Sarver, general manager Fort Stewart Exchange, took immediate action when she noticed that the weather pattern was becoming stronger outside of building 419.

"I was seriously worried when I saw the hail and the wind blowing like that," she reflected. "When I heard the hail, I knew it was really serious. When I first heard the rain, it was coming down very hard; it was pretty scary."

Before knowing that a Doppler radar tornado warning was issued for the Stewart area, she instructed employees from all parts of the building to seek shelter in an enclosed office in the back of the Human Resources office -- her office.

"I knew it was serious at that point," she said. "This is just something I knew to just take shelter; I was worried about the employees and the customers. I had [my TV] on the weather channel then we noticed the warning at that time."

As Fleeger said in the briefing, "be prepared, have a plan and be informed."

"When that time comes to implement your plan," he said. "You can roll right along with it."