Designing Digitally Mediated Networks for Pet-Inclusive Disaster Evacuation: A Socio-Technical Perspective

Abstract

Disaster evacuation planning has traditionally prioritized human safety, while companion animals remain ambiguously positioned within emergency response frameworks. Given the strong bonds between people and their animals, excluding them from evacuation planning can influence human behaviour, leading some to delay or avoid evacuation and thereby increasing risks to their safety. Although the importance of pet-inclusive evacuation has gained recognition following repeated disasters, support practices remain fragmented and largely dependent on local and volunteer-based coordination, particularly in Japan where responsibility is delegated to local governments. As a result, evacuees with companion animals face significant constraints due to limited access to timely and reliable information on shelters, temporary care, and support resources. To address these challenges, this study proposes a socio-technical design framework for a digitally mediated evacuation support network. Unlike prior approaches that focus primarily on policy development or localized practices, this study conceptualizes pet-inclusive evacuation as a system-level coordination problem mediated by real-time information infrastructure. The proposed framework incorporates a real-time mapping system that enables stakeholders to register, update, and access information dynamically. By integrating heterogeneous resources into a unified information layer, the system enhances coordination, situational awareness, and adaptive decision-making across multiple actors. The study further identifies key design requirements, including scalability, accessibility, and trust, contributing to the development of more inclusive and adaptive disaster preparedness systems.

Keywords: Pet-Inclusive Evacuation, Disaster Response, Socio-Technical Systems, Crisis Informatics

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1008153