Future Local Lab fireside chat with Professor Lucy Easthope

As part of our new interview series for Future Local Lab, LGIU’s Head of Content, Freya Millard, sat down with Professor Lucy Easthope, a leading authority in emergency planning and disaster recovery. For over two decades, she has been at the forefront of the profession and involved in the biggest world-shaping disasters, from 9/11 to Covid-19, and many more that fall under and off the radar – but not for Lucy and her comrades in the hidden world of emergency planning.In this thought-provoking discussion, Lucy shares her invaluable advice and expertise in helping local government and their communities recover and rebuild after disaster. We dig into the misconceptions of local emergency planning, the pertinent issues that infiltrate the sector, and the practicalities of how local government can work to improve citizen preparedness and resilience in the face of adversity, both now and in the future.02:00 – The role of emergency planners04:30 – Misconceptions and realities of local emergency planning10:45 – The concept of secondary disasters and bad help15:02 – Community preparedness and public involvement23:16 – The value of planning and protecting the plan25:57 – The cost of gender bias in emergency planning31:49 – Tackling cultural incompetency in emergency response35:22 – Walking the slow road of recovery41:16 – Learning to live alongside risk and disaster46:50 – Rebuilding the fabric of our society post-pandemic53:07 – Reflections and key adviceExclusive to LGIU members, join us for our upcoming Ask the Expert event with Lucy Easthope (Wednesday, 9th April, 10am BST). Here is your chance to ask Lucy your very own questions. Book your place.