Briefly in the news

-- Jennifer Kho

Rebecca Israel, a 48-year-old Costa Mesa resident and American Red

Cross volunteer, left for Seattle early Friday to volunteer her services

as a nurse to victims of the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that shook the city

Wednesday.

The earthquake beneath Puget Sound resulted in one death, hundreds of

injuries and billions of dollars in damage.

Israel, who has been a Red Cross volunteer for more than eight years,

plans to remain in Seattle for two weeks to provide basic first-aid and

mental-health services to earthquake victims and disaster workers.

Red Cross spokeswoman Rebecca Long said Israel is prepared to help in

any way she can.

“It’ll depend on whatever the needs are,” she said. “It could be basic

nursing or putting an arm around someone and telling them it’s going to

be OK.”

Israel is one of three Orange County residents volunteering in

Seattle.

Long said the Seattle chapter asked the Orange County chapter for

assistance.

“It’s important to help victims of a disaster put their lives back

together,” Long said.