ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO (ANS) -- An international humanitarian group is coordinating a response to Hurricane Ike across fifteen different Service Sectors from its Global Operations Center in Englewood, Colorado, based on its international global response model.

Humanitarian International Services Group (HISG) says it has identified 15 different service sectors encompassing a wide range of services that the private sector may provide during a disaster. The different sectors can be viewed on HISG's website: www.HISG.org .

HISG says the services range from food and water, shelter and reconstruction, and transportation and communications, to professional responder networks like law enforcement, firefighter and emergency medical teams.

The Global Operations Center’s coordination of the entire range of services allows different organizations with similar points of emphasis to work together for a more effective, efficient and comprehensive response to the hurricane within a specific sector, as well as a holistic response across all of the sectors.

The Global Operations Center (GOC) acts as a hub for sharing this critical information with different public and private emergency operations centers and private sector implementing partners.

This center has been hosting conference calls for partner aid organizations, and processing wide ranges of data into Spot Reports and Situation Reports that provide updated information about where the greatest needs are located and who is capable of response.

During Hurricane Gustav, public and private entities commended these reports as “the bench-mark for information on private sector response.”

HISG’s GOC is currently at full activation responding to Hurricane Ike at Alert Level 4. It is working with partnering aid organizations to prepare a response to Hurricane Ike.

Ike made landfall in the vicinity of Galveston, Texas early Saturday morning and caused significant damage and widespread power outages.

HISG also sent a Rapid Assessment Team into the Houston area to collect and deliver accurate and updated information from the affected areas. The HISG Rapid Assessment Team in Houston provided this update:

* The worst of the storm passed the Houston area at about 0800 CDT. Rain and 20 mph winds with gusts to 45 are still reported in northern counties along I45 corridor, Montgomery and Walker counties specifically.

* The Galveston, Houston and outlying communities were hit hard during the night.

* Surge and flooding was a significant issue. The surge came in at average 12-foot levels along coast. The surge blocked most of the bayou system that normally allows floodwaters from rain to flow out to sea. The hurricane made landfall and dropped 8 inches of rain in some places (including downtown Houston area). Flooding occurred because the surge water blocked the rainwater from flowing out to sea.

* Heavy winds of 100 mph to 110 mph knocked down a significant amount of the above ground power poles in the Houston area. The result is approximately 3 million electrical customers without power. Restoration for most will occur in the next 24-48 hours. Galveston will take much longer because most of their infrastructure was above ground because they are close to sea level.

* Downtown Houston hit hard with winds that broke a significant amount of the windows in skyscrapers. The wind even blew desks and computers out of the windows from upper floors.

* Rescue efforts are starting across Galveston and Houston area now. Road clearing and power line removal is beginning also.

HISG specializes in connecting private sector resources and capabilities to large-scale disaster relief efforts.

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, HISG set up an emergency operations center in Houston to help coordinate the aid efforts of hundreds of private sector companies, thousands of faith-based groups and over 55 warehouses.

In its International Disaster Response Model, HISG has identified fifteen Primary Service Areas that the private sector can engage in.

As the situation changes and different needs emerge, HISG will continue to communicate urgent needs to a network of private sector organizations that are prepared to respond.

HISG was formed in 2001 and specializes in connecting private sector resources and capabilities to large-scale disaster relief efforts. Active in more than 80 countries worldwide, HISG has begun training disaster response teams around the world in nations such as Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

HISG partners who are interested in the possibility of engaging resources to respond to this event are encouraged to contact the Global Information Center so that appropriate capabilities can be registered to maximize opportunities to coordinate and cross-support initiatives.

Please call the number below for more information or to address any questions.

HISG Contact Information: HISG Global Operations Center: 303-222-1942
Keith Stone, Director of Disaster Response, 979-826-9997

For the most up-to-date information, view the HISG website at www.HISG.org

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael's involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International.