Monroe County’s Emergency Management Director Irene Toner received the Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday during the 30th Annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference.

Toner was one of 14 recipients to receive various award from the Governor’s Hurricane Conference Board of Directors. She was recognized for her outstanding contributions and accomplishments in the field of hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation at the local, state and national level.

Toner retires on June 30th, after nearly two decades of service to Monroe County and 35 years working in emergency management. In 1997, she was hired as Monroe County’s Emergency Management Operations Manager. In 1999, she was promoted to Emergency Management Director, and has guided the island chain through numerous hurricanes and other storms and emergencies.

She will spend her last few weeks helping with the transition of her replacement, Martin Senterfitt, who began work with the County on Monday.