MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Longboat Key will be enforcing a new re-entry program after hurricanes.

Frank Rubino, the interim chief of the Longboat Key Police Department, says he helped develop the idea to improve storm season preparation.

For him, hurricanes are nothing new.

“I’ve been covering hurricanes since 1980," he said. "So, pretty much my entire career.”

The program will help residents get through checkpoints after a storm. The police department is currently handing out decals for the program.

“We’re going to meet with the manager from Ace Hardware," Rubino said. "This particular hardware store is the only one on the island. We want them to reopen as soon as possible (after a storm), so we’re going to give them a green sticker.”

There are three re-entry tiers:

         • Tier 1: For emergency responders. They do not need a decal.

         • Tier 2: A green decal for relief workers, health care workers, and others involved in recovery, such as insurance agents and businesses like Ace Hardware.

         • Tier 3: A red decal for other business owners and residents.

“These go right inside (the vehicle)," Rubino said. "Don’t block the VIN number, and don’t place it where we can’t see it, like in the tint. We’re hoping this will expedite entry for you and also reduce congestion.”

Green and red decals will be used to determine re-entry after a major storm. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Julia Hazel)

This new system means drivers won’t have to stop for ID checks.

“It’s quicker than the system we had before, which didn’t work for us," Rubino said. "It took too much time, and the lines were hours long.”

As Rubino continues making his rounds on the island, he knows educating people about the program now is a key step in improving storm preparation.

To receive a decal sticker, you must be a resident, business owner or essential worker.