Jonathan Lord awarded for service to Emergency Management
Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord will be presented the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) “Gary Arnold Award” at its annual meeting in February. This award is provided to an individual for dedicated, unselfish and enthusiastic service to improving the emergency management community in Florida.
“I am humbled to be receiving this award,” Lord said. “I really love what I do, and my amazing staff. I guess my enthusiasm shows – not a bad thing, I suppose.”
Lord was notified about the award by his own Senior Planner Ryan Simpson, who nominated Lord but was uninvolved in the selection.
Simpson, while still working for Putnam County, witnessed Lord’s dedication and passion for emergency management at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everything was happening so fast – information and guidance were changing daily,” Simpson said. “Jonathan did a great job setting up Zoom meetings to bring emergency management directors together from across the state to discuss the changes. His leadership transformed this group into a valuable resource for the state.”
The award commemorates the life and career of former Collier County Emergency Management Coordinator Gary S. Arnold, who died in 2001 at the age of 50 following a work shift supporting a wildfire operation. He had only worked in emergency management for three years after a 20-year career in radio and television.
The Florida Emergency Preparedness Association was created in 1956 to help professional Emergency Managers work to protect the people of Florida.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Jonathan Lord awarded for service to Emergency Management
