Community groups come together to plot emergency response in wake of disaster

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has joined forces with community groups in the borough to get everyone involved in planning and supporting residents in the event of an emergency.

The gathering was called following the Grenfell Tower disaster, and was attended by community organisations, faith leaders, tenants’ groups and local businesses.

More than 100 people put their heads together to start drawing up a plan on how they’ll work with the council, fire and police services to prepare for major incidents.

Sue Fennimore, the council’s deputy leader, said: “In Hammersmith and Fulham, there’s a huge sense of community responsibility.

“One thing the Grenfell fire told us was that all councils need better co-ordination with local community organisations when there is a major incident.

“This event was all about listening to each other, learning the lessons and planning the best way to work together.

“People from all walks of life are incredibly generous and ready to help when their neighbours are in trouble, and we need to recognise and support the many organisations who make our community so strong and compassionate in a crisis.”

Tina Martin, of Hammersmith-based charity Action on Disability was one of those who attended the event.

She said: “It’s great to see Hammersmith and Fulham being proactive about these things, and not simply waiting for an incident to happen.

“The event helped me realise as a local resident all the planning that goes into these things, and it reassured me as a representative of a disabled people’s organisation that the whole community was being considered in responding to any such incident.”

The ideas generated will now go towards developing a community emergency plan, to support the council’s disaster management and give residents and organisations the opportunity to play an important and co-ordinated role.

The event, held on September 19, had been planned before the terror attack at Parsons Green a few days earlier.

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