Business Hurricane Early Reentry Placard Program

Monroe County Emergency Management acknowledges the need for qualified critical private sector businesses that provide services and crucial supplies to be granted early reentry. Together with essential response personnel, this will further allow the restoration of community lifelines more efficiently and timely.

Does Your Business Qualify?

• Can your business provide any services or assistance to first responders and their recovery efforts?
• Do you have essential employees willing to assist in recovery efforts?
• Can you provide housing and supplies to your essential employees (not all, just the essential) while the infrastructure is down and being repaired?
• Do you have a memo of agreement or a contract with one of the county's critical infrastructure agencies (electric company, FKAA, a municipality, etc.)?

If you answered yes to these questions, then proceed to fill out the application using the link below and the Emergency Plan. Please read everything carefully and leave nothing blank.

The documentation requirements are essential to assist county and municipal officials in governing how to utilize all critical businesses and their services for post-event response efforts.

Hurricane Business Early Reentry Placard Application

If your Monroe County-based business qualifies as providing a critical service, you can obtain early reentry placards for your essential personnel before a storm. This will allow timely access into the county for damage assessment of your business before continuing your essential business functions to assist in recovery efforts. Each business owner or manager is encouraged to register and submit the required documentation and credentials for our county/municipal officials before hurricane season.

THE APPLICATION PERIOD FOR THE 2026 BUSINESS EARLY RE-ENTRY PLACARD PROGRAM IS OPEN UNTIL MAY 29TH, 2026 AT 5 PM.  NO ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME.

Essential Information Before Applying

Medical professionals of any kind need to go through the hospitals. Hospital officials can contact you for assistance and will grant you reentry when and if needed.

All critical businesses that are based or operate in OCEAN REEF must contact the Ocean Reef Public Safety office for early reentry.

Do not proceed to apply until you have gathered all the required documentation. Once you begin to apply, you must complete the form in the same session. There is no option to Save and return to finish where you left off.

Required documents for ALL applications:

• For-Profit Business - A copy of your current ‘Monroe County Business Tax Receipt’ is required. NOT YOUR FEDERAL TAX RETURN
• Nonprofit Business - A copy of 501(c)3 Determination Letter OR 4506-B Affirmation Letter
  • **misplaced your letter? You can download copies of original determination letters (issued Jan. 1, 2014 and later) using the online search tool: Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS).
• A list of essential personnel and their job title, and driver’s license number if asking for more than two placards for your business using the spreadsheet provided here. USE OF THIS PROVIDED FORM IS REQUIRED. Save to your computer and upload the completed document where requested on the application.

Additional required documents where applicable:

• A fully executed current memo or contract in effect through December 2026 with Monroe County or Municipality specific to assisting the government, first responders, or municipalities in recovery where one exists.
• A template to create a Business Emergency Plan using a fillable .pdf can be found here. USE OF THIS PROVIDED FORM IS REQUIRED. Save to your computer to upload where requested and retain for your reference. 
• If your company has more than one holding, please find and complete the spreadsheet provided here: Holdings List Spreadsheet.  USE OF THIS PROVIDED FORM IS REQUIRED. Upload to form where requested. You’ll be asked for a list of additional locations and a point of contact for each location, along with their job title and phone number where they can be reached during a State of Emergency.

A confirmation number will be displayed immediately above the application's Submit button. Write this down and store in a safe place. You will need this for future questions or concerns. We will email you with 21 working days from application submission. 

Applications that do not provide complete information, including supporting documentation and/or provide false/misleading information, will be denied and may be banned from future consideration in the Placard Program.

USE THIS LINK TO APPLY FOR THE 2026 BUSINESS EARLY RE-ENTRY PLACARD PROGRAM: 2026 Business Early Re-Entry Placard Application

Monroe County Emergency Reserves Corp (MERC)

Individuals who go through Monroe County’s Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) and become part of the volunteer Monroe Emergency Reserve Corps also can obtain early reentry placards. 

Monroe Emergency Reserve Corps (MERCORPS.ORG)

Questions?

• For questions on completing the application, email here.
• For technical questions, use this link.
• For information on citizen reentry windshield stickers, click here.