Though hurricane season started on Friday, Pinellas County has not selected a permanent leader to oversee its emergency management department.
Instead, the county tapped former state official David Halstead to serve as interim director until a candidate is hired.
The county wanted to name a permanent successor before longtime director Sally Bishop departed last week. She had headed the office since 2007.
Halstead, who Gov. Charlie Crist appointed to lead the Florida Division of Emergency Management in 2010, brings 40 years of first responder experience to the office. He is not a candidate for the permanent position, the county said.