Diamond Heights Community Association

Background: Resilient Diamond Heights (RDH) began as an effort by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church to bring community representatives together to prepare the neighborhood as well as possible for that big quake in our future or for local emergencies. In 2008, representatives from the Shopping Center, community agencies, housing developments and St. Aidan’s began meeting monthly. Our first group name, the Diamond Heights Emergency Preparedness Committee changed to Disaster Ready Diamond Heights in 2011and has now become Resilient Diamond Heights in order to be in accord with other Resilient neighborhoods in San Francisco.

Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2023

• A Netatmo weather system that was installed at St. Aidan’s in August. The weather system provides better forecasting for Diamond Heights temperatures to help decide whether to activate a heat relief center at St. Aidan’s.
• RDH continued to add to our neighborhood emergency supplies funded by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. Supplies are stored at St. Aidan’s and in a secure room at Diamond Heights Village. Supplies will also be used for the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) at its staging area in Christopher Park if needed in an emergency.
• RDH supported two Block Parties in the neighborhood. Parties were held on Arbor St. and Gold Mine Drive. The gatherings were starting points for assisting each block to create Strong Block programs in which neighbors would plan for helping each other in emergencies.
• RDH in person meeting April 22: Greg Carey presented a review of RDH plans and provided information on what individuals, families and businesses need to know and do in a disaster as described in his 5 brochures. Forty-one attendees received Go Bags filled with emergency supplies. The presentation was followed by dinner.
• RDH in person Meeting June 3: Greg Carey presented how attendees can work toward becoming a Strong Block by working together to identify neighbors who may need assistance in an emergency and described supplies to be provided by RDH to help in this effort. Dinner followed the discussion.
• RDH In person meeting October 7: Greg Carey presented how to set up St. Aidan’s as a Support Center using his Instant Incident Command System (ICS), an easy-to-use system with written cards indicating how to go through the set-up step by step. Jill Borofka provided a terrific home cooked meal. Supervisor Mandelman attended to share his views of the importance of neighborhood residents working together on emergency planning.
• Diamond Heights Holiday Party December 16: St. Aidan’s and RDH hosted the first in person holiday party since 2019. Nelson Barry, founder of Urban Angels provided updates about his organization. Greg Carey explained the work of RDH and the importance of preparedness. Patricia Wilder – neighborhood blues singer; and Scrumbly Koldewyn provided jazzy holiday entertainment and caroling. Santa and Mrs. Claus, Linnea Sweet and Peter Fairfield, passed out presents to children. Four Boy Scouts from Troop #15 and their leader Gus Silva volunteered from set-up to clean-up. Party attendees generously donated many toys for Urban Angels to distribute.

Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2022

• The Committee tried twice to convene a community meeting at St. Aidan’s, but community members were not ready to meet in-person indoors. One successful gathering convened neighborhood residents at Christopher Park. Sample emergency supplies were displayed. Attendees had the opportunity to ask RDH members about programs and services.
• $00,000 in funding awarded by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman continued to increase our readiness supplies.
• A major project was initiating and supporting four Block Parties in the neighborhood. Parties were held on Arbor St., Turquoise Way, Moreland Street and on Red Rock Way at Diamond Heights Village. The gatherings were starting points for assisting each block to create Strong Block programs in which neighbors would plan for helping each other in an emergency situation.

Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2021

A major portion of our work was determining supply purchases and program spending for two grants:

• $9,000 in funding from City Participatory Funding will be spend in 2021 to purchase emergency supplies to be used and stored at St. Aidan’s in a closet in the Parish Hall and stored in a secure room at Diamond Heights Village. Supplies will also be used for the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) at its staging area in Christopher Park if needed in an emergency.
• $10,000 in funding awarded by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. It is anticipated that this funding will be spent on the following projects:
  • 3 Block Parties in Diamond Heights with the goal of neighbors getting to know each other so that they may respond together in emergencies
  • Emergency Supplies for the Strong Block Program that will encourage neighbors to organize their block to help each other in an emergency
• Workshops Presented on Zoom
• RDH Training on Instant Command System (ICS), April 28, for Activating St. Aidan’s in an Emergency presented by Greg Carey
• Fireworks: Getting ready for a loud and potentially dangerous July 4^th on June 2 and COVID Update by Greg Carey.

Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2020

• Disaster Guides: RDH continued to distribute Greg Carey’s five brochures: Evacuation Planning, Food Safety During Disasters, Heat Emergencies, Sanitation During Disasters and Sheltering During Disasters. 
•  Weekly and Mid Week COVID-19 Newsletters: Greg Carey analyses City and State data for current trends in COVID-19. Request Weekly COVID newsletters: greggysf@icloud.com 
• RDH Neighbor Assistance Program: This program, launched April 2, requested block or building floor coordinators to help match people who are willing to check in on the wellbeing of neighbors with people needing help in Diamond Heights.
• COVID-19 Resource List: This list of San Francisco, State and Federal resources, information and services available to the public, was shared starting April 4.
  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hZ4CPAbNvr8kTur0-cvYUCfIv_ehc4QA/view?usp=sharing
• Workshops at St. Aidan’s Prior to Shelter in Place 
  How to Start a Neighborhood Watch Group, January 23, Adam Cuadra, sfsafe.org
  Disaster Supplies: Go Bags and Shelter Kits, February 27, Greg Carey
• Workshops Presented on Zoom after Shelter-in-Place 
  Workshops Presented by David Munoz Ventura, Community Youth Center 
  • Pre-Disaster Preparedness, April 16 
  • What to Do in a Disaster, April 30
  • How to Recover after a Disaster, May 13
  •  Pet Preparedness” Training, June 2
• Workshops Presented by RDH Steering Committee Members:
  • Virtual Psychological First Aid Tool Kit, Jill Borofka, June 30
  • Preparing for Heat Emergencies, Greg Carey, July 14, YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/wath?v=2LZIMEuZr_c
  • Preparing for Fire Emergencies, Greg Carey, July 28. Link: https://youtu.be/jnt5kLhZzpQ
• Diamond Heights Holiday Party December 19: RDH organized a virtual annual Diamond Heights Holiday Party. Cameron Partridge introduced all the entertainers, speakers, contests for favorite “Craftmas” homemade item and favorite holiday pet costume and Santa and Mrs. Claus who did the prize drawings. Over 70 people attended the event on Zoom.
  Youtube link for party: https://youtu.be/Ui_81l1XVW8
  
  Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2019
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• Disaster Supplies for NERT and RDH were purchased with $10,000 in City funding sponsored by former Supervisor Jeff Sheehy. Most supplies are stored in a secure room at Diamond Heights Village. An air conditioner was purchased and is stored in the Emergency Supplies closet in the Parish Hall. With the new unit, St. Aidan’s can officially open as a designated cooling center.
• District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman Funding Award: RDH was awarded $20,000 for disaster supplies, trainings and other assistance for the neighborhood.
• Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness Fair: On Feb. 13, RDH and St. Aidan’s hosted an afternoon of presentations by City agencies on how to prepare for and survive fires and other emergencies. The event was coordinated by the Community Youth Center of SF.
• Disaster Prep Guides: Greg Carey created five concise brochures: Evacuation Planning, Food Safety During Disasters, Heat Emergencies, Sanitation During Disasters, and Sheltering During Disasters. Greg provided trainings for each brochure at workgroup meetings. To encourage discussion, Greg created Disaster Trivia questions for each topic. 
• Workgroup presentations: In addition to the trainings for disaster guides, presentations included SF SAFE by Adam Cuadra, Principles of Healthy Foods to Eat in an Emergency by Jill Borofka and the Miraloma Block Champion Program by Guido Van Rijn.Psychological First Aid Training was provided on Oct. 24 by Jill Borofka and Tre Russell.
• Fire Pit Fire Danger Removed in Glen Canyon Park: Due to RDH advocacy, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Dept. removed a large fire pit in Glen Canyon Park and installed locked covers on the 6 fire pits behind the Silver Tree building in the park. The fire pits were formerly used for illegal nighttime bon fire parties. Fires are not allowed in City parks.
• Diamond Heights Holiday Party
  December 14: RDH organized the 7^th annual party with holiday craft making, caroling led by Scrumbly Koldewyn, a festive buffet, Disaster Trivia and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Over 120 people attended the event.
  
  Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2018 
  
  
• RDH Workgroup Meetings: The RDH convened eight evening meetings on our regular meeting date of the 4^th Thursday of the month. Providing dinner at each meeting encouraged discussion and community building. 
• Psychological First Aid Training, February 15: 29 people were trained in a program sponsored by Resilient San Francisco and the SF Dept. of Public Health.
• District 8 Participatory Budgeting Award May: RDH was awarded $20,000 for disaster supplies and assistance developing a template for preparedness for housing developments. RDH came in 5^th among 22 proposals that were voted on by residents of District 8.
• Exercise/Drill for Heat Wave Relief Center, May 24: RDH led 20 workgroup members in a simulation of opening a Heat Wave Relief Center using Instant ICS. Each member portrayed a role in the activation.
• Neighborhood Evacuation Planning June 2018: Due to concerns that a fire could start in a neighborhood park on a windy day that could spread quickly to Diamond Heights, Glen Park, Noe Valley and Miraloma Park, RDH started planning for neighborhood evacuation. 
• Fire Evacuation Flyer: RDH developed a flyer to let people know of potential fire danger and the need for immediate evacuation. The flyer contained tips on receiving emergency alerts, identifying neighbors in advance who may need assistance, what supplies to add to a “Go Bag” and remembering to plan for pets in an evacuation. A paper flyer was distributed by volunteers to 2,000 homes in Diamond Heights. Another 500 flyers were distributed by email to housing developments that preferred electronic flyers.
• SF Chronicle Article: “Could a wildfire sweep into San Francisco? Residents seek assurance as state burns,” Sept. 6: Due to RDH advocacy, the SF Chronicle published an article on the potential for a major fire to start in a neighborhood park that could impact nearby homes.
• Fire Safety in Neighborhood Parks and Evacuation Meeting, Sept. 8. A standing room only group of attendees called on representatives from the SFFD, SFPD, SF Recreation and Park Department and SF Department of Emergency Services for more fire mitigation in our City parks. The meeting was convened by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, RDH and the DHCA.
• Stop the Bleed Training, September 27: RDH hosted the training. 35 attendees received certificates for completing the training.
  RDH Table at Where in the World is Christopher Park Festival, October 13th: RDH volunteers distributed preparedness materials, disaster trivia questions and super hero band-aids at this Neighborfest event.
• RDH Brochures: Greg Carey, created guides for Fire Evacuation Planning, Sheltering During Disasters, Food Safety During Disasters and Sanitation During Disasters for distribution.
• Ruth Asawa School for the Arts Meeting, Nov. 8: RDH met with Barnaby Payne, Principal, to discuss mutual projects between students and the neighborhood.
• Diamond Heights Holiday Party December 15: RDH organized the 6^th annual party with holiday craft making, caroling, a festive buffet, a visit from Santa, free raffle for disaster kits and hand crank radios and a presentation on RDH and NERT. Over 150 people attended the event.
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  Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2017
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• RDH Workgroup Meetings: The RDH Workgroup converted from daytime meetings to early evening meetings in order to attract more attendees. Eight evening meetings were held in which attendees helped plan for opening St. Aidan’s as a heat wave center and as a Neighborhood Services Center after a local emergency or regional disaster. Providing dinner at each meeting encouraged discussion and community building. 
• Diocesan Disaster/Resiliency Preparation Team: Invited by Jane McDougle, Diocesan Disaster Team Coordinator, Betsy Eddy joined the group. She participated with Jane in disaster preparedness presentations at Deanery on May 13th and for Fresher Start, a program for new clergy, on June 1st.
• Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) Training: RDH and St. Aidan’s hosted the 6-session NERT training starting on Sept. 12. Over 70 people were trained in personal preparedness, basic disaster skills, disaster medicine, light search and rescue and team organization for those who chose to join a NERT Team.
• RDH/NERT Table at Where in the World is Christopher Park Festival on Sept. 23rd: Disaster preparedness materials were distributed at the table and people were encouraged to join the Diamond Heights NERT. Neighborfest, a program to help communities hold neighborhood block parties and events, was a sponsor for the Festival. RDH received a new red garbage bin filled with disaster supplies from Neighborfest. The bin just fits in the Disaster Supplies closet in the Parish Hall.
• Heat Wave Center on September 27^th, 10 am – 6pm: St. Aidan’s activated as a Heat Wave Center to welcome people to cool off from a day in which the temperature was close to 90 degrees. Ten people attended. Four volunteers facilitated fun discussion, snacks, a light lunch and lots of ice water. 
• Diamond Heights Holiday Party December 16: RDH organized the party enjoyed by over 80 people. Volunteers from RDH and St. Aidan’s enjoyed providing and assisting with holiday crafts, caroling, homemade cookies, a festive buffet and a presentation on RDH and NERT.  Santa and Mrs. Claus distributed gifts to children.
  
  Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2016
  
  
• Diamond Heights NERT Meetings: RDH initiated planning for people interested in joining our community Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT).
• City Resilience Summit March 4:
  Workgroup members participated in this citywide event to share RDH accomplishments and plans for 2016.
• RDH Community Ministries Grant March 2016: RDH received a grant for $1500 to purchase disaster supplies and pay for training and event expenses. The supplies will be stored in the Parish Hall with already acquired supplies designated for activating St. Aidan’s as a Neighborhood Service Center in a local emergency or regional disaster.
• RDH Featured in The Good Steward Newsletter May 2016: The article Disaster Volunteers described the RDH plan to use church and community volunteers to open St. Aidan’s as a Neighborhood Service Center for needs assessment and assistance in times of emergency. The newsletter is a program of The Church Insurance Companies that provides insurance for 85% of the Episcopal Churches in the US.
•  RDH Volunteer Training October 1: RDH trained 18 people to serve as volunteers at St. Aidan’s Church after a disaster to help individuals with needs, provide resources for stabilizing their lives and for offering spiritual and emotional support. Neighborhood Service Centers are planned throughout San Francisco to help residents in emergency situations.
• Retirement Party for Jim Stelly November 22: RDH hosted the party at Casa De Vida, a residence for people with mobility challenges. Jim served as the residence Administrator and as a member of RDH for seven years. Jim’s work with his residents to increase resiliency for emergencies will continue as a model for other housing developments in Diamond Heights.
• Diamond Heights Holiday Party December 17: RDH organized the party enjoyed by 95 people. Volunteers from RDH and St. Aidan’s enjoyed providing and assisting with holiday crafts, caroling, homemade cookies, a festive buffet and a presentation on RDH and NERT.  Santa and Mrs. Claus distributed gifts to children.
  
  Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2015
  
  NERT Disaster Resilience Training February 10: Erica Arteseros, NERT Coordinator, lead her program’s 3-hour training on Neighborhood Emergency Response Training basics.
  
  San Francisco Foundation Grant: RDH completed the $3,500 grant by convening a building managers’ meeting on February 24 with housing developments in the neighborhood and by working with the four affordable housing complexes in Diamond Heights to improve their disaster plans particularly for assisting seniors and residents with disabilities. 
  
  RDH Volunteer Management Plan: Workgroup members completed the plan in March for training and supervising volunteers for activating a Neighborhood Support Center at St. Aidan’s in the event of a neighborhood emergency or regional disaster.
  Family, Individual and Business Disaster Preparedness Workshop April 18:  Brian Whitlow, Executive Director SFCARD (Community Agencies Responding to Disaster), lead participants in question and answer exercises to promote disaster resilience and preparedness.
  RDH Booth at Glen Park Festival on April 26: RDH volunteers staffed a booth with the Diamond Heights Blvd. Median Project and the Diamond Heights Community Association to share the news and projects of Diamond Heights’ organizations.
  St. Nicholas Church Approved as Red Cross Disaster Shelter May 2015: Due to the advocacy of the RDH, the Church and the American Red Cross Bay Area completed a shelter agreement to be activated in times of disaster.
  Patrick Otellini, SF Chief Resilience Officer, Presentation June 24: RDH members learned about Patrick’s work role and plan for San Francisco and received answers to questions on neighborhood preparedness.
  Building a Stronger Future in Diamond Heights Workshop Oct. 8: 40 people representing Diamond Heights organizations met for lunch and a workshop on disaster resilience. Presentations lead by Daniel Homsey, Neighborhood Empowerment Network Director, and Brian Whitlow, SFCARD, raised awareness of challenges and possible solutions for a variety of emergencies.

2015 Disaster Resilience Summit December 1: RDH members participated in this gathering of over 400 people at City Hall.  Daniel Homsey coordinated the workshop with presentations by San Francisco leaders including Mayor Ed Lee. 
Diamond Heights Holiday Party December 12: Approximately 60 people enjoyed food provided by All Season Restaurant and Safeway along with caroling and holiday music lead by Scrumbly Koldewyn. Greg Carey gave a presentation on RDH, NERT and disaster preparedness planning.  Castro on Patrol and RDH materials were distributed including safety whistles.  Door prizes included a Red Cross Emergency Kit and gift certificates donated by All Season Restaurant. Holiday craft activities and toys donated by Walgreens added to the holiday cheer. RDH, St. Aidan’s Church and the Diamond Heights Shopping Center sponsored the party.

Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2014

Diamond Heights Health and Safety Fair: RDH, the Shopping Center, St. Aidan’s, and the SF Police Academy sponsored the Fair at the Police Academy on September 13. Over 300 people enjoyed live music, meals from food trucks and visited a wide range of agency tables representing Diamond Heights’ organizations, disaster preparedness agencies, health agencies and agencies serving older people and people with disabilities. Children enjoyed the bouncy houses, face painting, free popcorn and the planting and coloring projects. SF Cares provided free eye exams and free eye glasses for 24 grateful people.  Smokey Bear attended to promote fire prevention.

RDH Disaster Response Plan Heat Wave Component: Due to a heat wave in May, RDH developed a plan to open St. Aidan’s when the temperature reaches 85 degrees or higher for several days in order to provide water, light meals and a check on wellness.  The plan was partially activated in September when tip sheets on what to do in a heat wave were passed out at the Shopping Center in three languages and misting stations were set-up provided by Jeanette Oliver, Shopping Center Manager.
San Francisco Foundation Grant: St. Aidan’s received a $3,500 grant to help the four affordable housing developments in the neighborhood plan for checking on and supporting seniors and residents with disabilities in a disaster or neighborhood emergency.
Japanese University Students Visit RDH: Students who wanted to learn about our community disaster planning met with Jeanette Olivier, Daniel Homsey and Betsy Eddy in August 2014.  A segment of our meeting was shown on public television in Japan.
Diamond Heights Holiday Party. On December 20 an estimated 125 people enjoyed food provided by All Season Restaurant, Safeway, the Shopping Center and homemade cookies baked by St. Aidan’s parishioners. Peter Fairfield and Linnea Sweet provided holiday cheer as Santa and Mrs. Claus. Those present enjoyed caroling and holiday music. Eleanor Elliott headed up craft activities and helped participants of all ages make holiday wreathes.  Children were delighted by toys donated by Walgreens.

Resilient Diamond Heights Accomplishments 2013 – 2008

• DisasterReadyDHSF.com, a disaster tips website, with text created by the committee and website design by Chuck Stegman, Jensen’s Mail and Copy, was provided on the Internet in February 2011.
• Along with SF CARD and the Red Cross, RDH sponsored the Diamond Heights Disaster Readiness Conference attended by 35 people representing 10 organizations in March 2012.
• San Francisco State initiated the Community Network Mapping Project in November 2013 with the final report published in July 2014.
• RDH received recognition and a grant via SFCARD as a best practice organization from FEMA and CDC in December 2012.
• The initial Diamond Heights Response Action Plan was completed by January 2013 providing the framework for community response following a disaster or neighborhood emergency.
• RDH presented a Spring Community Celebration in Walter Haas Park in March 2013.
• RDH purchased supplies in April 2013 with SFCARD grant funds.  The supplies are designated for use for opening St. Aidan’s as a Neighborhood Service Center.
  RDH sponsored a Holiday Party for the Neighborhood in December 2013.