A free collar tag could save your pet's life during the next hurricane

Pets need to hurricane prep too.

Why it matters: Many pets died or went missing after Hurricane Ian slammed Florida in 2022.

• We're still in what forecasters predicted to be a hyperactive season .

Driving the news: Pet Disaster Alert, (P.D.A.), a new, free disaster relief plan for pets, launched in Florida on Tuesday.

• The plan, which includes a smart tag, is offered by nonprofit animal rescue Flew The Coop and pet-collar tech company FidoAlert.

How it works: Pet owners who register for the P.D.A. plan get preemptive guidance before storms including locations of pet-friendly shelters, a "Pet Prep Playbook," and real-time SMS text message alerts during storms with resources for people and pets.

• They also get a free pet tag engraved with the animal's name and a unique pet ID number, which links the pet to FidoAlert's national database to assist in reuniting lost pets with their owners.
• If a pet is lost, a text alert can be sent to every member of the alert network within a few miles.
• Someone who finds a pet can scan the tag's QR code, automatically contacting the pet parent and their emergency contacts.