Over 40,000 people have been ordered to evacuate due to a chemical leak at the GKN Aerospace facility on Western Avenue in Garden Grove, Orange County, California.
A 34,000-gallon tank containing methyl methacrylate, a volatile chemical used to make plastics, began overheating on Thursday, May 21st. Now, crews are working around the clock to cool and stabilize the tank.
Residents of Garden Grove and surrounding cities are keeping an eye on evacuation orders, public health warnings, shelter information, and more.
Here’s a list of resources to help you stay informed.
City of Garden Grove
The City of Garden Grove is maintaining an emergency resource page with information in four languages. Refer to the website for a real-time evacuation map, a list of hotlines, updated shelter and hotel information, and official video updates from the city.
- Website: GGcity.org/emergency
- Instagram: @gardengrovecityhall
- Facebook: Garden Grove City Hall
These Garden Grove agencies may also be worth following for updates:
- Garden Grove Police Department: Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates about shelters, perimeter control, road closures, and public safety messages.
- Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD): Check their website, Facebook, and Instagram for essential information about GGUSD school closures and communications to families.
County of Orange
Orange County’s government website has a disaster information page dedicated to the chemical leak. Refer to it for hotlines, a public information map, and links to agency resources.
Refer directly to the Orange County Fire Authority for information about the tank status, air monitoring, and public safety info.
- Website: OCFA.org
- Facebook: Orange County Fire Authority
- Instagram: @OCFireAuthority
- X: @OCFireAuthority
CA Department of Public Health
The California Department of Public Health has released a Health Advisory about the risks of exposure to Methyl Methacrylate (MMA). Their website has detailed information about possible scenarios resulting from a leak or explosion, as well as potential health effects.
- Website: CDPH.CA.gov
- Instagram: @capublichealth
- Facebook: California Department of Public Health
- X: @CAPublicHealth
Cal OES Community Resource Page
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) created a community resource page with links for evacuation information, shelter information, local hotlines, and organizations dedicated to helping senior citizens.
- Website: News.CalOES.ca.gov
- Instagram: @cal_oes
- Facebook: California OES
- X: @Cal_OES
Emergency updates by city
You can also refer to specific city resources for updates and resources by location:
Hotlines
Below is a list of hotlines that may be useful for public information, emergency resources, and status updates.
For emergencies, call 9-1-1.
- Garden Grove Emergency Hotline: (714) 741-5444
- Orange County Public Information Hotline: (714) 628-7085
- OCFA Medical Information Hotline: (714) 538-2501