Preparing for the unexpected:

The risks facing London and the UK are constantly changing. How do we plan and prepare to keep London resilient? 

London at a glance

The 2021 Census recorded London's population at nearly 8.8 million, up from 8.2 million in 2011, and 7.2 million in 2001. 

The population in 1935 was around 8 million and declined over the following decades due to evacuations, war damage and reconstruction, and post-war migration.  

London's population is projected to exceed 10 million by 2031.  

Keeping millions safe: Supporting the resilience of London

London Fire Brigade must have appropriate arrangements in place to respond to emergencies, and can maintain its core service provision. This means that we need to plan for the unexpected, as well as our day-to-day responsibilities of education, prevention and response.

What risks does London face?

The risks facing London—and the UK as a whole—are constantly changing. The government identifies the most significant potential emergencies over the next five years through the National Risk Assessment (NRA). The public version of this assessment, the National Risk Register (NRR), provides advice on how individuals, businesses, and emergency services can better prepare for civil emergencies. It assesses the likelihood and potential impact of wide-ranging various civil emergency risks. 

The London Resilience Team (LRT)

Since November 2014, we have assumed operational responsibility for London-wide resilience – though this is overseen by the Greater London Authority.

We focus on three areas:

  • resourcing and developing the staffing of the new London Resilience Group
  • considering and adopting best practice in resilience both national and internationally
  • updating the London Resilience risk register considering both national and London-specific risks

Working with other agencies

In an emergency, we collaborate with other agencies including police, medical, military, and security services to respond effectively. By planning ahead, we ensure seamless coordination for any unforeseen incidents. 

Specialist equipment

London Fire Brigade has a range of specialist vehicles and equipment to respond to emergency incidents with the capability to deliver a co-ordinated response to a range of serious, significant or catastrophic incidents that have a national impact, including:

  • floods
  • chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) explosive incident
  • urban search and rescue
  • water and high volume pumping
  • command and control if there is a major incident
  • emerging threats

 

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