March 24, 2005 - County's Emergency Manager, Don Daniels, Receives Prestigious National Hurricane Conference Award

St. Lucie County's Emergency Manager, Don Daniels, was awarded the National Hurricane Conference's 2005 Distinguished Service Award on Thursday in New Orleans. The award was given to Mr. Daniels for his outstanding leadership in response to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004. Frank Koutnik, the Response and Recovery Bureau Chief for the Department of Community Affairs, and Stan Tait, Conference Chair of the National Hurricane Conference, nominated Mr. Daniels for this award. The Distinguished Service Award is for a sustained, significant contribution to one or more fields of hurricane related activity or knowledge over a career. The award also recognizes individuals whose cumulative accomplishments are of unusual merit.

Don Daniels is St. Lucie County's Emergency Manager in the Public Safety Department and has worked for the County for 20 years. The Emergency Management Division handles and coordinates all major emergencies and serves as the liaison between local, state and federal agencies.

The 27th annual National Hurricane Conference, the nation's leading forum for education and professional training in hurricane preparedness, is being held this week in New Orleans, Louisiana.