What is a POD?
It is a group of 2-6 houses in one’s neighborhood supported by a pod leader and each other. Ideally, it is a cluster of next-door and across-the-street neighbors. The pod leader takes responsibility for looking out for those in the group who self-identify as possibly needing assistance in an emergency. Pod members share the responsibility to communicate their needs and look out for each other.

How does my household join a pod?
If you would like to either receive help from your neighbors or provide help to your neighbors during an emergency, please indicate your preference in the Peacock Gap CARES Community Disaster Preparedness Pod Request

What is a pod leader?
It is a person who volunteers to take on the responsibility of identifying a small group of houses in his/her neighborhood to create a pod, make initial contact and maintain contact with those living in the houses of the pod. The pod leader agrees to check in on them and possibly offer assistance as needed in emergency situations.

What does it take to be a pod leader?
It is a completely volunteer position in your neighborhood. Here are the basic requirements to be a POD leader:

• It requires a willingness to take on the responsibility of leadership for a few houses in a pod.
• You must be age 18 or over, internet capable with internet access, and have a valid driver’s license and driveable vehicle and a cell phone with text capability.
• You must be able-bodied enough to help another who could need physical assistance with evacuation, or have someone in your household or pod who could work with you to offer physical help to any self-identified elder or disabled person in your pod.
• The pod leader agrees to work with the CARES committee of the Peacock Gap Homeowners’ Association to understand disaster preparedness plans for your pod, and to maintain telephone and/or email contact at least twice yearly with those in your pod.
• No special training is needed and you do not have to be a medical person. The pod leader keeps track of those in your pod and modifies the pod neighbors’ contact information in hard copy to have available in an emergency.

Should a disaster arise, the pod leader will contact designated emergency personnel or those in the PGHOA for direction when such contact is possible.

Would I be legally responsible if I can’t do what a pod leader is supposed to do?
No, there is no legal requirement nor legal responsibility. It is just volunteering to be a good neighbor in an organized way, with a plan. The PGHOA created the concept for a thought-out means of helping each other in emergencies. It can even include reaching out to a pod member when a neighbor just needs a bit of extra attention. You can stop being a pod leader as you wish, though it is good to find a replacement if you retire from being a pod leader. Anyone who self-identifies, asking to be in a pod and says he or she may need help in an emergency gives the information confidentially to our CARES committee in our own PGHOA only. It is not shared with anyone else but ourselves and the pod leaders. A pod leader offers a possible extra means of help to those who may want it.

How can I find out who is a pod leader if I want to be in a pod?
You will be contacted by the person volunteering to be your pod leader and confirm that you wish to participate. If you have not heard from anyone by one week after contacting our PGHOA and identifying yourself as wanting to be in a pod, contact Carolyn Rosenblatt (clrosenblatt@gmail.com, 415 454-0413) and we will find someone who has volunteered near you to be a pod leader.

Can a pod have any other purpose besides emergency check-ins on neighbors?
Yes, we hope to develop a stronger sense of community in our Peacock Gap neighborhoods, creating ways to get to know each other better, looking out in general for one another and creating a feeling of belonging and safety among ourselves. We want pods to also be a foundation for uplifting our community by improving safety, ensuring that we know whom to contact if we, ourselves ever need help or just for more socialization and good times together when possible.

How can I become a pod leader?
First, be sure you meet the basic requirements listed above. Then you can express your interest through the Peacock Gap CARES Community Disaster Preparedness Pod Request (above). After you sign up, you need to decide which houses you want to have in your pod. You personally contact all the neighbors you want to have in your pod and invite them to be sure they are agreeable, as no one has to participate. You may also be matched with nearby neighbors who request to join a pod as well. After you are confirmed as a pod leader, please complete the Peacock Gap CARES Pod Leader Agreements form to confirm your new role.

After I volunteer to be a pod leader and identify my pod participants nearby me, then what do I do?
We suggest you start by contacting each of the residents in your pod and capture information similar to the following example. We are also working to create Pod cards that will include the contact information we have available centrally through the HOA. Your goal is to keep this information somewhere easily accessible to locate in an emergency. Please also check in with your pod every 6 months to update any information as necessary. You might want to put a reminder in your calendar to update this information twice a year.

Sample Pod Leader Information about Their Pod
John Jones’ pod, 123 My Street, mobile 415 444-4444, johnthegreat@mymail.com.


Pod members:

1. Mary Smith 124 My Street, 415 222=2222. Email blahblagh@goodstuff.com. She does not expect to need help.
2. Jack Black and Jane Black, 125 My Street. 415 666-6666. No email They are both seniors and did identify that they would need help evacuating in an emergency. Jack uses a walker.
3. Fanny Feefee, 122 My Street, 414 333-3333. Email blahblah@meme.com. She lives with her disabled son John, who is in a wheelchair. She would need help with evacuation in case of an emergency.
4. Josie and Johnny Jojo, 126 My Street. 415 777-7777 Email: goingnutswteens@ok.com. Two teens are also in the house. None expect to need help in an emergency. Jared Jojo is 17, able-bodied, and could help evacuate a disabled or frail person in an emergency He has volunteered to assist as needed. His email is cooljared@iamcool.com.

Thank you for your interest in our Community Disaster Preparedness program.