What to do in an emergency
Keeping you informed
The City of London Corporation has plans in place to ensure that during an emergency, as far as possible, that you can find out or receive information on:
- What has happened
- What is being done
- Where the cordons are
- How long the emergency may last
- Whether you are to be evacuated and where to
- When you can get back inside your building
- Any other issues that would help you protect your staff and your business or your home
General safety measures
- Call 999 ONLY in the event of injuries or if a threat to life exists
- Check for injuries, try to stay calm and reassure others around you
- Listen to the advice from the emergency services
- Never put yourself or others in any danger
- Try to get to a safe place – this may not be your home or workplace
- Limit phone calls – it keeps the lines free
The City Corporation's emergency plan
What to do during an emergency
If you are involved in an emergency, in the absence of other instructions the best advice is usually to:
- Go inside and close doors and windows, shut down ventilation systems
- Stay inside for as long as it is safe to do so – depending on the incident, stay away from doors and windows
- Tune in to your local radio station, TV or internet news channels – emergency responders will use these to issue specific advice to the public
Please note: There will be times when it is not safe to go in – remember to use common sense in any emergency situation and follow the instructions by the emergency services.
Stay informed
City of London Police Alerts direct to your mobile telephone
Many organisations may be using social media to keep residents up to date during an emergency.
Loud Hailers
The City of London Police may be using the On-Street Public Address System (loud hailers) at or near the scene. Also, listen up to instructions and advice given to the public via their speaker masts
There are a number of ways through which you can access or receive emergency information:
- Updates from the Cross-sector Safety and Security Communications hub (CSSC) via your own business sector's industry sector lead
- City of London Police Alerts direct to your mobile telephone for small and medium businesses
- X/Twitter feeds from the City of London Police and the City of London Corporation
- Local BBC radio station
- On-Street Public Address System (loud hailers) – used by the City of London Police at or near the scene
Account for your staff and help them contact their loved ones
People may become separated or be concerned about each other's welfare.
The police may establish a casualty bureau. A telephone nymber will be provided. This is a number where you will be able to report colleagues or loved ones as missing or unaccounted for. This telephone number will be advertised widely after an incident.
Consider how your HR department/employee assistance programme can help you (and the City of London Police) account for your members of staff and any visitors to your premises.
Stay safe
Do not enter any areas where an emergency has taken place until the emergency services tell you it is safe to do so.
Think about how you will provide for the needs of any members of staff that might have been affected by the incident.
Find a place to carry on your business from
If you can't return to your property then you may need alternative temporary accommodation. Depending on the size of your business and the nature of your operations, a combination of remote working and alternative premises might be suitable.
About London emergencies
Top picks for health-related information
- Public Health England
- NHS Choices
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
- World Health Organisation
Top picks for security-related information
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Travel Advice
- Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure
- Overseas Business Risk
- National Counter Terrorism Security Office
- MI5
- National Cyber Security Centre
Extreme weather