‘We are mobilizing every state resource available to support local responders and make sure the community has what they need to stay safe,’ Newsom said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County on May 23 because a chemical storage tank is at risk of exploding or spilling thousands of gallons of toxic material.
“The safety of Orange County residents is the top priority. We are mobilizing every state resource available to support local responders and make sure the community has what they need to stay safe,” Newsom said.
The malfunctioning tank holds approximately 5,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a flammable and volatile chemical used in plastics manufacturing for aerospace applications.
The tank, located at a manufacturing facility in Garden Grove, first started displaying signs of instability on Thursday. On Friday, there were increased fears of an explosion, according to Orange County Fire Authority interim Chief TJ McGovern.
Approximately 50,000 residents were evacuated in Garden Grove, which is home to around 172,000 people and located 30 miles south of Los Angeles.
The governor’s proclamation directs all state agencies and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to support Orange County and impacted areas, and unlocks additional emergency response resources and authorities.
This includes making state-owned properties and fairgrounds available to the evacuated residents for shelter.
Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey issued an update Saturday at 10 a.m. PT, saying the gauge they examined increased from 77 degrees Friday morning to 90 degrees Friday night and is increasing about one degree an hour.
He said they went in Friday night to try to neutralize the explosive potential of an additional 15,000 gallon tank if the 7,000 gallon tank does blow up.
“We’re preparing for the tank to fail and spill the liquid all over the place,” Covey said. “We’re looking for places that we can push this fluid, should it fail, and try to prevent it from getting into our storm drains, our river channels, and ultimately into the ocean.”
The evacuation zone extends beyond much of western Garden Grove and includes parts of neighboring cities Anaheim, Cypress, Stanton, Buena Park, and Westminster.
By Dylan Morgan
