S3E11 - Professor Lucy Easthope (After Disaster Network)

The Longest Day Podcast

In this week’s podcast, Leah welcomes Professor Lucy Easthope, the UK’s leading authority on recovering from disaster. During the COVID pandemic she advised the Prime Minister’s Office, governmental departments, and charities. She is author of When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope from an Expert in Disaster. Her longest day was waiting for the invasion of Iraq while she was based at the mortuary. It was March 2003 and something old died in her but something new was born. There was a plan for the deceased soldiers, those bringing them back, the bringing of the coffins, a plan for their bereaved families, and the viewing of their loved ones. Her longest day resulted in making use of the plan that was needed from the outset. For Lucy, there is great power in working on the principle that we are the help others need. On her paternal side, given their strong Methodist faith, she grew up with believing that everyone was her neighbour. Many of the female matriarchs in her family were teachers and they always provided help. It is, therefore, unsurprising that at the age of 10, Lucy realised that emergency planning was going to be her speciality. Her advice to young people is to “get a good sense of you early on.” We need to come alongside the young and help them express what they are not and what they are. After all, who we are in our souls is vital.