Tampa Hurricane Helene evacuations: $5 tag makes re-entry smooth | wtsp.com

TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Helene already triggered numerous evacuations more than a day before it's slated to make landfall Thursday evening.

A mandatory evacuation order was put in place for Hillsborough County residents in Zone A and all mobile or manufactured homes on 9 a.m. Wednesday. Check the latest evacuation information on the county's website.

READ MORE: How to check your evacuation zone in Hillsborough County as Hurricane Helene tracks toward Florida coast

Tampa officials understand how stressful evacuation before a storm can be, along with returning home after a storm has passed. That's part of the reason why the city's office of emergency management offers a $5 hang tag to make re-entry into the area much smoother.

The city's "Hurricane Re-Entry Program" is meant for residents and businesses in the ZIP codes expected to see the worst hurricane damage, including:

Residents in the included areas can fill out this form to receive a $5 hang tag for their cars, which allows for convenient verification that people trying to enter evacuated areas either live there or have a business there, according to the office.

"During a catastrophic hurricane event, public safety officials will screen vehicles attempting to re-enter the impacted area," the Tampa Office of Emergency Management said on its website.

"In an effort to avoid long lines, the vehicle Re-Entry Hang Tag will allow public safety officials to quickly identify vehicles approved to re-enter. Those vehicles will be waved through, bypassing the normal public screening required to enter the affected area. The Re-Entry Hang Tag Program will enhance safety and speed up the recovery process by getting residents and business representatives in - while keeping criminals out."

Residents who are evacuated and do not have the hang tags will have to wait in re-entry point lines to verify they are members of the evacuated community by presenting their photo ID.