WASHINGTON, D.C. — Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin will receive an award at the White House on Friday, May 8, in recognition of how he managed recovery efforts in the aftermath of last year’s slide in Oso.

Rankin will be presented with a 2015 Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official, during the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week.

Since 1998, the SBA has presented Phoenix Awards to business owners, public officials and volunteers who displayed selflessness, ingenuity and tenacity in the aftermath of a disaster, while contributing to the rebuilding of their communities.

On March 22, 2014, the slide in Oso killed 43, engulfing 49 homes in mud and debris, blocking the main state highway and damming the Stillaguamish River.

In the aftermath of the devastation, Rankin’s first job was to comfort the families who had lost loved ones. He quickly coordinated the search and rescue mission, while working to ensure that residents and businesses had access to emergency resources.

Rankin was a visible liaison to federal and state officials, going above and beyond to keep the residents informed. He fought to get telephone and internet connections restored quickly, and did everything he could to make sure that Highway 530, the main transportation link to Darrington, reopened as quickly as possible.

The SBA makes low-interest, taxpayer-backed disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations of all sizes. More information about the disaster assistance program is available online at www.sba.gov/disaster.