California's Governor Newsom just declared a State of Emergency for Orange County related to the malfunctioning chemical tank in Garden Grove. Fears that a storage tank of methyl methacrylate may fail and spill thousands of gallons of the toxic chemical or even explode next to other toxic chemical storage tanks has led to the mandatory evacuation of thousands of residents in nearby areas. (We discussed this in an earlier article, here.)
The proclamation directs the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and all state agencies to address the emergency and support Orange County and impacted local jurisdictions. It also unlocks additional emergency response resources including making state-owned properties and fairgrounds available as shelters for evacuated residents.
Governor Newsom said, "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."
Added Director of Cal OES Caroline Thomas Jacobs, "Cal OES continues to work alongside our local partners to support the ongoing hazardous materials response operation. Our role is to coordinate resources, share critical information, and ensure local responders have all the resources necessary to safely respond to this dynamic situation. We are committed to a unified, whole-of-government response focused on keeping our communities safe."
Orange County Fire Authority Unified Incident Commander Craig Covey posted a current assessment of the situation on Facebook this morning.
Current evacuation maps can be found here: Garden Grove website
Additional information, including shelter locations, can be found here: Cal OES Community Resource page.
The text of today’s emergency proclamation for
the Orange County can be found here.
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