"Don't Gamble on Your Preparedness"

Operation SMART EXIT is full-scale (planned & scheduled) evacuation of the ten "plus" largest commercial buildings in Downtown Providence, RI.

UPDATE: On 26 September 2012, the USA Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) announced the winners of its IAEM-USA & GLOBAL 2012 Awards Competition.

Operation SMART EXIT won two awards, one for IAEM-USA and one for the GLOBAL competition.

Operation SMART EXIT won the Partners in Preparedness Award which recognizes programs or processes that demonstrate innovative, multi-participant involvement between local governments/governmental entities and private sector businesses, non-governmental organizations/non-profits, or individuals which have resulted in effective and efficient incident management, emergency management or homeland security processes.

IAEM Press Release (USA)
IAEM Press Release (Global)

The Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is conducting this event to:

• Increase the preparedness of businesses in the largest high-rise buildings in the City;
• Increase awareness of the residents and businesses in the City; and to
• Support Ready Providence & National Preparedness Month.

When: 11:30 - 1PM, Thursday, 28 June 2012

Where: Downtown Providence (Rally Point is Burnside Park)

Who: Approximately 4,000 participants from:

• Providence City Hall
• One Financial Plaza
• 100 Westminster Street
• Bank of America
• 20 Westminster Street Associates
• Textron
• Turks Head Building
• GTECH Center
• One Citizens Plaza
• The Federal Center

Operation SMART EXIT Benefits

• Be recognized as a leader in public safety preparedness within the City & Region;
• Be a more confident, aware and prepared, resident & tenant;
• Exercise all of your evacuation plans; and
• As a community, we would hope that this exercise inspires others to plan and drill to recognized standards.

Operation SMART EXIT Partners

• City of Providence (Emergency Management, Police, Fire, Communications, Parks + Public Works)
• RI Red Cross
• RI Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)

Operation SMART EXIT Competition

We plan to hold a competition for the building that has the best participation (based on highest percentage) on the day of the event. We will give each of the building's tenants a promotional "poker chip" that will be placed in a container that represents their individual building upon their exit. The "poker chip" can also be redeemed for sponsor give-aways. The building manager and three of his guests, with the highest percentage, will have the opportunity to have lunch with the Mayor at the Capital Grill.

Operation SMART EXIT Sponsors

ARAMARK Facility Services - Providence (Capital Grill Lunch)

Have questions or want to participate? Call PEMA at 680-8000.

Director's Note: Operation SMART EXIT is a result of a few key individuals with great ideas and inspiring stories. First, Amanda Ripley, reporter for Time Magazine and author of The Unthinkable and her story about Rick Rescorla's actions during the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center Twin Towers. Second, is David Harel, from ASERO Worldwide, who shared ideas and insights about creating a challenging exercise to not only raise awareness but improve the culture of preparedness in the City of Providence. Thank You.