Extreme heat in london - our response

This week we have been experiencing a Red Heat Health Alert in London; this is only the second time that the authorities have called one and it indicates severe risk to life. For homeless people this is even more of a threat.

Museum meadow during the heat

At the museum we have been running our own HEATSWEP response and we have been working with our local authority, Haringey Council who have accommodated more than 30 people under their red alert SWEP provision. They began their response on Monday, more than 24 hours before the emergency conditions came into place, so that people could be accommodated before the risk was too serious.

Our most recent Severe Weather Emergency Investigation showed that councils had brought in policies to deal with extreme heat by 2024, but had not yet had chance to test out practice due to relatively cooler conditions. This red alert is the litmus test and we will be running a mini investigation into how all London Councils performed during the red alert. We hope to publish the findings before the end of the summer as part of our ongoing monitoring and campaigning on climate emergency and homelessness.

In the meantime, we are still providing electrolytes, cold drinks, shade and signposting from the museum’s shady garden. Thank you to our crew who have now done 5 straight days of heat support on top of running the museum for the public.