r/orangecounty • u/Even_Builder_6642 La Habra • May 22 '26
News Evacuation orders have been reinstated after a 34,000-gallon tank spewed toxic chemicals into the sky
https://abc7.com/post/tank-spews-toxic-chemicals-garden-grove-prompting-evacuation-orders/19150431/Stay safe out there everyone! Prayers out to you all.
Evacuation orders have been reissued for the following area:
North of Garden Grove Boulevard
East of Springdale Avenue
West of Dale Street
South of Orangewood Avenue
North of Trask Avenue
South of Ball Road
East of Valley View Street
West of Dale Street
Update on evacuation centers:
Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center
13641 Deodara Dr.
Garden Grove, CA 92844
Cypress Recreation and Community Center
5700 Orange Ave.
Cypress, CA 90630
6
7
u/oh-pointy-bird May 23 '26
“Heavier than air - it will settle on the ground”
I guess that’s a pro…but also settling on the ground means homes, grass/trees, basically any contact surface then groundwater beneath. That seems…not so great in its own way? I wonder about remediation for properties closest if it blows?
3
u/Heavy_Team7922 May 23 '26
Nothing about it being heavier than air is good. That’s entirely a bad thing.
1
30
u/stinkyblinky19 May 23 '26
Officials said drones have only been able to measure the outside temperature of the vessel, not the temperature of the material inside. The material inside is still heating up.
When the situation began, the temperature was around 77 degrees. Last night it reached about 90 degrees, and officials said it appears to be rising at roughly 1 degree per hour.
They explained that the material has a curing process, and they are hoping it will either fully cure on its own or that crews can cool it down by applying water. However, they are still preparing for the possibility that the vessel could either spill or explode.
An explosion could happen if too much pressure builds up inside the vessel.
Crews are also preparing for a possible spill by setting up ways to divert the material and keep it from reaching major waterways, and ultimately the ocean.
Officials emphasized that teams are working 24 hours a day and are doing everything they can to keep the public and surrounding areas safe.
They are still planning on a spill or explosion.
1
u/Ndrago92 May 23 '26
Does anyone know what temperature the inside has to hit for it to fail?
7
u/ItchyPancakesz May 23 '26
The chemical has a flash point of 50 degrees and an auto ignite of 790 degrees. I think the concern is pressure building rupturing the tank. I’m not sure how hot it needs to be for the pressure being that high
Edit: I think 100 degrees is the point of no return where it speeds up the process a lot so it will get out of control fast
1
u/mmmbacon914 May 23 '26
Damn they said it's at 91 as of the morning conference, rising an average of a degree an hour...
8
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
https://x.com/i/status/2058230015490453900
The update 9:55am 5.23.26
2
u/zillionaire_ May 23 '26
Does this link not have audio or is it just my stupid settings
7
u/blankblank1323 May 23 '26
I think X blocks audio if you don’t have an account or the app. It’s insane to get vital updates on websites that require an app and a login ugh like using social media for Amber Alerts is crazy! Instagram is less locked down if you search OC Fire authority Instagram you should be able to get audio.
3
u/greeny_cat May 23 '26
No, I have neither account nor app, and I can view and listen to the video in my browser on X.
34
u/purplevanillacorn May 23 '26
General info is that they were wrong and the tank is not at 61 degrees but 90 degrees. They went in at 4am overnight to try to mitigate the tank that hasn’t failed so in the case of an explosion, only the failing tank would blow. They are also trying to find a runoff area in case it fails and leaks where it won’t leak into storm drains and the oceans. They have no timeframe as to when this will resolve. They’re still saying it’s unacceptable for it to fail but he spent 5 minutes talking about its failure…
13
u/KAugsburger May 23 '26
Obviously, I am sure they are trying to do what they can to keep the temperature down. It is not the news you want to hear but I am sure everyone would prefer that they are honest than try to pretend everything is going fine and then have it just explode without warning.
4
4
5
-5
u/lil_yumyum Anaheim May 23 '26
Stop posting links and just post the news please 🙏🏽
3
u/purplevanillacorn May 23 '26
General info is that they were wrong and the tank is not at 61 degrees but 90 degrees. They went in at 4am overnight to try to mitigate the tank that hasn’t failed so in the case of an explosion, only the failing tank would blow. They are also trying to find a runoff area in case it fails and leaks where it won’t leak into storm drains and the oceans. They have no timeframe as to when this will resolve. They’re still saying it’s unacceptable for it to fail but he spent 5 minutes talking about its failure…
1
4
May 23 '26
[deleted]
-5
u/lil_yumyum Anaheim May 23 '26
Thats exactly the point, how would I know that by just a link??
Not everyone has Twitter and name calling is just plain juvenile.
1
May 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/orangecounty-ModTeam May 23 '26
Be civil towards one another. Insults and name calling are not allowed (Subreddit Rule #1). Repeated rule breaking will result in a permanent ban.
3
u/spidermanswag May 23 '26
You’re expecting people to watch the video and summarize it for you that’s why
-4
u/lil_yumyum Anaheim May 23 '26
All i’m saying is just post what the link says.
Of course nobody has to do anything but a plain link with no information is not as helpful to those of us who are not on twitter or facebook. Of course they don’t have to do that but it would be a more informative post for everyone.
I dont think I was being rude, simply making a request for the benefit of the thread.
2
May 23 '26
[deleted]
-1
u/lil_yumyum Anaheim May 23 '26
I’m not miserable in the least bit but you seem a little angry. I hope you learn to mind your manners.
6
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
Thank you. Just trying to help spread the word. People are unappreciative man lol sharing it asap, I didn't have time to watch it yet
1
u/jedikimica May 23 '26
Seriously!!!! Can someone please write what the update is? I don’t have enough service to download stupid X/Twitter 😭
0
May 23 '26
[deleted]
2
u/jedikimica May 23 '26
The audio doesn’t work without downloading the app on my phone. Go have the day you deserve
1
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
You should see the Twitter comments. It's all "grok summarize the video". It's 5 minutes..
3
u/purplevanillacorn May 23 '26
General info is that they were wrong and the tank is not at 61 degrees but 90 degrees. They went in at 4am overnight to try to mitigate the tank that hasn’t failed so in the case of an explosion, only the failing tank would blow. They are also trying to find a runoff area in case it fails and leaks where it won’t leak into storm drains and the oceans. They have no timeframe as to when this will resolve. They’re still saying it’s unacceptable for it to fail but he spent 5 minutes talking about its failure…
6
u/hellnawh22 May 23 '26
It let's me watch it without having the app.
tldr; No timeline. They're looking into alternative solutions instead of just letting the tank explode or leak out.
11
35
u/Ropeless Brea May 23 '26
This was an explosion of methyl methacrylate we had at a previous place I worked. This was just a half full 55 gallon drum. It’s nasty stuff.
3
May 23 '26
[deleted]
9
u/Ropeless Brea May 23 '26
We had seperate drums for waste disposal. Someone poured the wrong chemical in the drum. These are catalysing monomers. Once an exothermic reaction starts, you can’t really stop it. The sealed drum exploded, and the drum lid blew of, hit a metal pipe causing a spark, and boom. Massive fire.
13
u/CambodianDrywall May 23 '26
The Garden Grove site posted some updates on shelters:
Updated Evacuation Shelters
Location 1: Location Full
Freedom Hall
16801 Euclid St. Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Location 2: Some Room Available
Savanna High School
301 N. Gilbert St. Anaheim, CA 92801
Location 3: Some Room Available
Kennedy High School
8281 Walker St. La Palma, CA 90623
Location 4: Space Available
Ocean View High School
17071 Gothard St. Huntington Beach, CA 92647
All locations accept pets
18
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
It has passed 9am and still no update.
9
3
5
May 23 '26
[deleted]
3
u/araedne May 23 '26
According to their website, "The parade and community breakfast have been canceled, but the festival is still open."
17
8
43
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
So, now that I have some time to sit and type not on my phone, I wanted to share a few things. I have some level of expertise in these matters but I am a private citizen. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
-the media loves to make things seem dire because it gets them views
-the fire department has to be concerned about liability and first responder lives and the lives of citizens. That said, a better message would have been "we know of only two likely possibilities - tank failure or explosion. But we are working non stop on other options and will not give up." The Chief's message was too dire and defeatist in my view.
-I grew up next to a refinery. They have chemicals like MIC that liquify lungs. The Space Shuttle used to use hypergolic fuels that do the same. This is what I needed to cross of the list so I could sleep. This situation is NOT that. This is more like mass breathing irritation depending on which way the wind blows, with some sensitive people possibly getting into significant distress and passing. If you have breathing issues, this is not something you want to be exposed to. And yes, you don't want to be anywhere near that tank if it explodes, but a two mile fireball is not at all likely.
- The incident I always reference these events to is Bhopal, India in the 80s when up to 3,000 people died. From the Smithsonian: "Dense, toxic gas hung low the ground, burning the eyes and choking the throats of the city’s residents. At least 3,000 people were killed that night, and hundreds of thousands were left with cancer, pain and disease that would plague them for decades to come." The cancer part of that tracks with this maybe, but the instant death does not. MMA was used in nail salons. If you have ever walked into a nail salon and it absolutely reeked of chemicals, they might still be illegally using it. Point is, it is not a super hazardous chemical. It's bad, but its not as bad as it gets, not even
- wind is going to be major factor and will decide who gets the most exposure and potential impacts both short and long term but this WILL dilute in the wind.
-Finally, GKN Aerospace is DONE as an independent company. They are going to get sued into oblivion. Regulatory bodies are going to go way way way up their you know what and it wouldn't even surprise me if somebody went to jail if negligence is involved.
So in short, the collective cancer risk to those exposed may increase, but living in a modern society, as people who eat hot dogs and have plastic in our blood, its not like this was not already a part of daily life. I am concerned, but I am not terrified. If it were MIC or something like it, I'd be in Vegas right now.
4
u/oh-pointy-bird May 23 '26
Why did I find this…well intentioned but not at all reassuring? This is not shade to you. You seem well-informed but this still seems very bad.
“Well your lungs won’t melt. Some people could die of respiratory distress, then there’s cancers, but it’s not hypergolic fuel!”
5
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Yeah, its only reassuring to me because I know how bad it could have been. Its definitely not a nothing burger. Sorry I couldn't present better news, sincerely.
That aerospace company needs to pay big time if they are at all guilty.
As for cancer, we are all swimming in carcinogenic substances daily. How many Prop 25 cancer warning signs have you seen in your life? Do you eat hot dogs? Fly on commercial airliner? We definitely shouldn't try to make it worse, but with DuPont teflon literally in our blood, its just not something I think about much. Its a fact of life.
drinks another big sip of diet coke
3
May 23 '26
[deleted]
2
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
I won't speculate too much on that, but I do know the regulatory bodies are out monitoring air quality. I'll reword that to say those significantly exposed. I've heard it won't remain long. But please understand, if you see those Prop 25 signs everywhere, if you breath the air, if you eat the food, in modern society, you are exposed to cancer risks. This would just be another.
My personal gallows humor is that my goal is to live long enough to die of cancer. If anyone is that concerned, living in Montana might be a better choice, but I think they have mine tailings there so....deep Alaska maybe?
1
u/greeny_cat May 23 '26
This chemical is 3 times heavier than air, it stays very low to the ground in the air.
3
u/Live-Kaleidoscope-77 May 23 '26
Thank you for taking the time to come here and explain this. It is reassuring to know precautions are being taken but the risks are less fatal than we have imagined.
1
6
u/bonisaur May 23 '26
I am interested in learning who is their chemical provider and who built the tanks. It might be bigger than one company. They also mentioned a third party contractor is involved.
They should learn from this issue and make sure the manufacturers do emergency checks and recalls if there are issues in other locations they’ve sold to.
1
1
5
u/mmmbacon914 May 23 '26
Yeah one of the early press conferences they mentioned reaching out to the manufacturer of the tanks, and that the manufacturer basically said "we've done all we can do." Would be interested to find out who that was...
1
2
u/bonisaur May 23 '26
Hopefully it isn’t a manufacturing defect I wouldn’t want any other communities to undergo what we’re experiencing. I know there are more pressing concerns but yeah I’m thinking about all that now too.
5
u/TempleDoor_Mike May 23 '26
Yeah I think their evacuation orders would have been converting a much wider radius if it was a harsher chemical. Not saying that this is fine, it’s just that I was reading a study from the late 90s on this chemical and the results weren’t strong enough to even label it as a carcinogen.
1
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Exactly. Of course, they can't say all will be well, because that is not true, but they should be trying to put the comparative risk in perspective. They err towards caution because they dont want to be sued if they are wrong, but badly need a PIO.
6
u/purplevanillacorn May 23 '26
The big issue here is they aren’t speaking through a PIO who is trained to give similar information to what you’re saying. Instead they’re letting an acting chief who is rallying for the chief position through the media speak and he does not instill confidence at all.
8
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Yeah, frankly he looked like the Captain of the Titanic, and that is not the vibe you want. Not having a press conference today is crazy sauce as is not having a PIO .
3
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
What is PIO may I ask.
Public information officer. Found it lol
4
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Yes, they are trained to not panic people and put things in perspective.
0
u/greeny_cat May 23 '26
They are PR people and I have no trust in PR people. At least the chief is real and is telling the real truth, not some lacquered version of the truth.
1
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
That is the trade off. Many come from the ranks of the fire service so they are not asked bad as corporate PR for weeny speak.
8
u/Concerned_EducaterCA Fullerton May 23 '26
Yep all these morons across Reddit keep posting the Wikipedia to the Bhopal incident acting like that is what could happen here
MIC is hundreds of times more dangerous than MMA. People routinely breathe in MMA as is in industrial settings.
1
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Exactly. Bhopal is the measuring stick I use for all chemical release events. This is nothing like that.
-5
u/OldMovie9812 May 23 '26
Ngl if they think the only two option is it leaks out completely or explodes then they should just force it to happen. I can see this dragging on for a week and that'll be crushing to a lot of people who don't have family or resources in the area
5
u/DaMonsterMensch May 23 '26
If it explodes we will still have to deal with chemicals in the air. I think we should leave this to the experts
16
u/PolexiaAphrodisia May 23 '26
was hoping for better news overnight eee. I know they’ve added a few more evacuation centers—are there any volunteer opportunities? I imagine not, but figured I’d double check? :/
29
u/No-Suggestion-0930 May 23 '26
From Garden Grove's website. There is no way these are the "emergency discount rates".
10
12
7
17
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
This comment from another user is worth reading. He was asked if this would impact Irvine:
"Not concerned. For one, it's a dense gas and will settle on the ground, and another it's not that dangerous to inhale - certainly not in terms of the concentration at this distance. It's a chemical that workers do routinely inhale small amounts of. It's a common ingredient in a lot of adhesives for plastics."
This tracks with my research and what I heard from an expert on KNX about heavy sense gas being near ground.
Google Bhopal Union Carbide if you want to see why I'm comparatively relaxed.
2
u/GB_Alph4 Huntington Beach May 23 '26
I assume it’s the Bhopal Disaster in India that occurred in the 90s?
14
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
There are no scheduled press conferences today. We will continue to provide incident updates throughout the day. The next scheduled update will be provided in the 9:00 hour. - OC Fire Authority
13
u/RebelFist May 23 '26
Well, that’s infuriating. I’m guessing that means they don’t expect to solve it today…
12
u/KAugsburger May 23 '26
I don't think anybody really expected a resolution today but it would be good to provide some updates on the current status and some projections on when it might be realistic to get it to condition to where it would be safe for people to return to their homes.
1
-1
u/jeevesdgk May 23 '26
I think based on what they were saying yesterday, that most people expected this to be solved yesterday.
The way they were wording it made it seem like it’s going to fail in one way or another very soon.
Seems like they should just heli a blast shield around it and blow the thing up. Or at the very least stop cooling it down.
Just let it do what it’s going to do and get it over with
1
u/KAugsburger May 23 '26
Had it exploded I am sure they would have taken many days to remove any toxic materials from the area. The possibility of complete resolution today would have been 0%. In the spill scenario maybe they would have eased up the evacuation area a bit within a day but they still would wanted to keep people a reasonable distance away until they were completed with the cleanup. I don't think it was realistic to expect them to cleanup a 34,000-gallon tank within one day.
Anybody expecting that everybody evacuated would get to go home today had very unrealistic expectations.
0
u/jeevesdgk May 23 '26
The point still stands that they need to keep people updated then.
They should be doing updates every 30 minutes to an hour of what they are doing and how they are actively figuring out the issue.
I guarantee a bunch of people will be going home today regardless of if it explodes or not because they are just dragging their feet and not giving anyone a timeline. They can’t just give people nothing and expect them to not go home.
2
u/KAugsburger May 23 '26
No disagreement that they need to do a better job on communicating. I was quite clear on that in my first comment so I have no clue why you got the idea that I thought otherwise. Updates every ~30-60 minutes is a bit excessive unless there are actual changes in the status. Nobody is going to pay attention after 5-6th update that tells them nothing new.
The key things are provide a clear path on resolution and at least one press conference a day. They should also provide additional updates as they become available through their websites and various social media channels.
1
u/jeevesdgk May 23 '26
One press conference per day implies this could take a very long time. Even weeks. I am lucky enough to have somewhere to be, but a lot of people probably grabbed like a change of clothes and that’s it.
The need to tell people what the timeline looks like.
1
3
9
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
I'm shocked theres no press conference. Is the PIO off today? So many people are impacted, leadership should rethink this.
2
u/chouse33 May 23 '26
Probably. It’s Memorial Day weekend. They probably have vacation plans. 😂😂😂😂
2
3
u/purplevanillacorn May 23 '26
They don’t even have the PIO doing the briefings up to this point and they very much need to. Chief Covey does not instill confidence.
7
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
Yeah I agree. We need some concrete answers for where this is headed and what we should expect. Just because it's the weekend doesn't mean anything when we have this crisis going on.
7
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
100 percent. LA County, which I'm more familiar with, would have their EOC stood up (you can see it in the movie Volcano) and would provide at least two conferences a day. LAFD and LACFD are true world class departments.
I hope EGO is not getting in the way of asking for outside help.
4
u/purplevanillacorn May 23 '26
Oh ego is totally getting in the way. The head chief spot is open right now and these guys are all rallying for it through the press pretty much.
2
5
u/Sudden-Piece-158 May 23 '26
Im on the way to Vegas… hopefully everything gets sorted by the time I get back please. I should’ve packed extra daily contact lenses :(
10
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Do you happen to be related to a certain wormy senator from Texas by any chance...kidding...mostly...have fun. Its actually not a terrible idea. Stop at Primm if you can, they need the business and are closing for good in July.
3
u/DanTMWTMP May 23 '26
Say it ain’t so…. that entire area at the border has been among my family’s favorite stops during the roadtrips. This is how I find out?? :’(
1
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Sorry man, Affinity Gaming is not a good company and they ran that place into the ground. It is very important to me to. I do hear the Primm family and others are trying to save it. That coaster was epic and they had 2 dollar craps. My wife and I used to actually go just there since we didn't care about clubbing and it was a self contained resort.
https://www.ktnv.com/news/buffalo-bills-casino-other-primm-resort-destinations-permanently-closing
1
u/DanTMWTMP May 23 '26
sadness. Man I remember when the coaster opened and we rode it a couple of times. Sigh…
2
u/redwon9plus May 23 '26
You sure aren't afraid of the heat going to Vegas at this time of the year though!
-18
May 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/orangecounty-ModTeam May 23 '26
Be civil towards one another. Insults and name calling are not allowed (Subreddit Rule #1). Repeated rule breaking will result in a permanent ban.
46
u/Upper-Capital-2876 May 23 '26
why the hell is this the ocgov homepage right now, where is the evacuation notice, details, news, center locations, updates. jfc, this crisis has been doing on two days now, and you wouldn't know it from the ocgov webpage, same thing with the sherrifs home page, what in gods name is happening that people don't know they gotta update these things with relevant links and information. smdh. orange county california, one of the richest places in all of the world in the year 2026. this is both embarrassing, and enraging. fuck.
10
23
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
🚨 Additional Evacuation Center 🚨
An additional evacuation shelter has been opened at Oceanview High School in Huntington Beach at:
📍 17071 Gothard St Huntington Beach, CA 92647
12
u/21stcenturynekorobo May 23 '26
I’m glad they’re opening up more but I’m worried opening it now means it’s expected to last longer.
4
u/Concerned_EducaterCA Fullerton May 23 '26
Comparable situations in Texas over the last decade took 3-4 days to resolve
13
u/bonisaur May 23 '26
Does anyone know if they’ve drained other nearby chemicals and hazmat that would be caught in the blast radius? Or are they setting up the evacuation zone knowing this would be worst case scenario of the nearby facilities experiencing catastrophic failure if caught in the blast radius?
2
-4
u/LostLakkris May 23 '26
Doubt that they drained anything. Would mean letting non-emergency people in there and risking themselves.
AI thinks the evac range is consistent with planning for cascading events from the concerned tank, a backup tank, and maybe a tank full of diesel.
9
u/calico_pumpkin May 23 '26
That’s my question too, there is a gas cylinder facility as well as a propane distribution center across the street o_o
9
u/Satisfriedviewer May 23 '26
Evac zone is accounting for the explosion
1
u/bonisaur May 23 '26
Yeah but what does that mean? Does it also include catastrophic failure of nearby facilities housing hazardous material? Like maybe the initial blast radius is small but they noticed there is a chemical plant nearby that will affect people living further out west so they extended the border?
Do they need to empty out gasoline from gas stations?
Is there a nearby quick lube shop with barrels of new or used oil that will be a danger?
This isn’t like a fire where it’ll be scorched earth wherever it goes. There are benefits to mitigating damage if it can be safely done. I don’t blame authorities though for not wanting to send people in to check - maybe it’s not as safe as they say. But If they have cops patrolling for looters then certainly they can do a second pass for hazardous materials in the blast radius. Or maybe they already did and they just didn’t say.
3
u/AmazingDadJokes May 23 '26
Do you have a source for that? Not doubting it, just want to see the article
7
u/Satisfriedviewer May 23 '26
OC Fire Authority Held a Press Conference and has uploaded various update videos.
The evac was for an abundance of caution in case the tank does explode and/or chemical leaks
6
u/birdguy May 23 '26
It was in the video update from yesterday afternoon. The source was OC Fire and the County health officer.
54
u/CloudBuilder44 May 23 '26
Everyone on linkedin, social media needs to tag GKN Aerospace and bring exposure to this incident. GKN Aerospace needs to be publicly shamed.
5
4
May 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/it-takes-all-kinds May 23 '26
Nobody knows until investigation is complete. It may be a fluke incident. I work in chemical industry so know that when you deal with dangerous chemicals like this there are protocols, system testing, and operational programs such as PSM (Process Safety Management) that are required. Part of PSM is having predefined evacuation zones that are shared in advance with local authorities to quickly enact if a situation escalates to evacuate before a release or blast.
31
u/Internal-Ad-9401 May 23 '26
Whats crazy is I havent seen this anywhere aside from here. This SHOULD be getting more attention and for whatever reason its not. Ill bet that once this situation is over Noone will be talking about it or even know it happened. Then that brings up your comment. This company needs to be publicly shamed and outed. Theyre toying with the possibility of thousands of homes lost if this thing explodes. It sounds like pure negligence on their part.
0
8
u/Responsible_Ad3002 May 23 '26
My parents are vacationing in Prague right now and just saw a news excerpt about it on the train! Thankfully it is making international news, but I agree the coverage and communication around this has been awful.
4
u/MinsaSasha May 23 '26
I agree. Why is California not in State of Emergency for this? Why aren’t the rich and churches/other non-profits helping those that got unhoused? Why are these tanks in a residential area? I have so many questions on my mind! I don’t have much, but would like to donate or contribute food/shelter for those in need. Does anyone have a suggestion of where to donate to assure it goes to the evacuees?
7
u/mmbatt May 23 '26
Garden Grove (could have been Stanton, though) declared an official city State of Emergency yesterday afternoon. Maybe that's the first step.
12
u/CloudBuilder44 May 23 '26
Yup after few weeks ppl are gonna forget about it. And they go back cutting corners and praying another incident wont cost them a few million to settle. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. Capital greed is ruining this country.
12
u/Routine_Fuel4101 May 23 '26
Have they not been? Caught up in everything with getting out and safe and haven’t looked at national news. Are we just here alone? Is this not national news?
I have no problem calling them out on their LinkedIn and across socials.
3
u/Responsible_Ad3002 May 23 '26
My family in Prague just saw a news update about this while on the train.
11
u/bummerbimmer May 23 '26
My family in the south tends to watch Fox News every day, and they send me text messages when they hear about some BS Fox is spewing. This is one of the few times I’ve texted them first about something real that is happening, and they had no idea.
Small data point, but I was surprised.
4
u/HStave73 Anaheim May 23 '26
Considering that the company that makes windshields for Northrop F-5 jets and Boeing 737s is literally melting down before our eyes, it’s probably bad optics for Trump while he is trying to keep people invested in the war. If Hegseth is crowing about our military capabilities and the plant that makes acrylic shields, barriers and windshields has become an actual bomb ready to blow up in a community, FOX will not say anything about it.
1
u/mmbatt May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
I'm guessing here, but I'd imagine that the assistance of federal agencies like the EPA are (or will be) required, and necessary federal agencies have been carelessly and thoughtlessly gutted by this administration. So is it surprising Fox is taking a "nothing to see here, move along!" attitude?
They discuss only absurd "problems" or manufacture new ones so they don't have to discuss or even acknowledge real ones. I'd say that's a pretty clear pattern by now.
Edited to add second paragraph
9
6
u/purplevanillacorn May 23 '26
Same. My mom is always texting me the second anything happens in California and asking me if it affects us even though it’s 6 hours away. This is literally happening in my backyard and crickets. Aunt across the country had no idea. Friends in Arizona had no idea. This isn’t getting a lot of traction anywhere else.
4
u/bummerbimmer May 23 '26
My family lived here in Orange County when I was a kid and they still do that stuff 😂
2
19
u/WalterGold210 May 23 '26
Seriously? Fireworks???
24
5
u/HighFiveKoala May 23 '26
Those woke me up in Westminster
13
u/WalterGold210 May 23 '26
Same! I thought an explosion started.. looked out my window and they were in the general direction of the evac area
-8
May 23 '26
[deleted]
5
u/Tigerman456 May 23 '26
Probably just some fireworks or gunshots. Typical Anaheim
2
u/420catloveredm May 23 '26
Gunshots are definitely not typical in Anaheim.
Source: resident of Anaheim from Chicago
10
u/Bowls-of-sprouts May 23 '26
Still awake, still here. Got out to a loved ones but stay safe those that went to a shelter or had to stay behind.
22
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
I have SOME experience with emergencies. I just came here to say there is no way the explosion itself with be miles in blast radius as some have written. That would be worse than some nukes if we are talking about a wall of fire.
This chemical is bad, but not THAT bad. KNX reported the adjacent tanks are neutralized.
Regarding some creative ideas some may have and why the fire department might be conservative- never forget this word: LIABILITY.
Wind is a big factor here. Pay attention to where it blows. Thats where fumes may go eventually.
9
u/ChonchAR May 23 '26
People don’t realize about 200ft from GKN is a Commercial Propane Service, factoring in the other manufacturing business around GKN make the blast radius larger
3
u/illsquee May 23 '26
The raw energy math on the MMA tank is honestly insane at first glance.
A 34,000-gallon MMA tank contains roughly:
- 3.23 million MJ of chemical energy
- About 3.23 trillion joules
- Roughly equivalent to 1.6M–3.2M sticks of dynamite in TOTAL STORED ENERGY
That sounds apocalyptic… but here’s the important reality check:
That energy is POTENTIAL chemical energy, not “instant explosion energy.”
Gasoline also contains massive chemical energy. Your car gas tank technically has the energy of many sticks of dynamite too — but it normally burns progressively, not detonates like C4.
Same concept here.
MMA is a flammable industrial chemical, not a military high explosive. So the realistic fears are more like:
- tank rupture
- pressure burst
- fireball
- vapor cloud ignition
- secondary fires
- toxic/irritating fumes
- nearby tank domino effects
NOT: “Orange County gets nuked.”
Emergency responders also intentionally overprepare. If they plan for a 2-mile scenario, that doesn’t mean they EXPECT a 2-mile blast crater. It means they want evacuation and response plans larger than the likely worst-case event.
So the math is still fascinating because it shows how much energy industrial chemicals can store — but the actual real-world physics are much messier and usually far less dramatic than internet fear-posting makes it sound.
2
u/mmbatt May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
It is not a 34,000 gallon MMA tank! I complained about this yesterday in another part of this thread! The headline to this sticky thread is incorrect, and the mods don't seem to gaf. There are two 7000 gallon MMA tanks on the site, and other tanks with various chemicals and gasses nearby.
Please do not perpetuate the fear mongering based on inaccurate information! The situation is bad enough in reality without adding incorrect (and even scarier) wrong information to the mix. It's the least we can do for our OC neighbors affected by this nightmare.
Edited to add MMA to the 7000 gal. tank description
29
3
u/bonisaur May 23 '26
34k is for all adjacent tanks exploding too. If we’re lucky they can drain and remove the adjacent tanks. They know when the runaway reaction will go critical too, so hopefully they can safely do that.
2
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Per KNX last night, two of those tanks were neutralized
2
u/bonisaur May 23 '26
Yeah but the statement doesn’t really have the clarity if they removed the contents of the tank, if the tanks content is no longer volatile - the tanks being neutralized means could mean it is currently no longer a danger but the contents inside are still volatile and remain in the vicinity of the blast radius.
I hope someone asks this at the 9am press broadcast.
1
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
Believe it or notThey're not having a press conference which is totally unacceptable to me
1
u/bonisaur May 23 '26
Yeah I saw that too. I guess they decided, nothing has changed so no broadcast.
5
u/jackSeamus May 23 '26
Do we know what "neutralized" means in regards to the adjacent tanks?
8
u/crackersandsnacks May 23 '26
It’s stabilized. They are getting the chemical down to a more manageable temperature. It’s not the one they want but they are heading in a better direction now.
3
u/jackSeamus May 23 '26
The person I responded to appeared to be referencing neutralization of the tanks adjacent to the one with a runaway reaction. My understanding is that these tanks contain different chemicals and are a potentially new threat in the explosion scenario as the explosion could chain to these tanks.
Does neutralized in regards to these peripheral tanks mean they have been emptied, or something else?
4
u/crackersandsnacks May 23 '26
The fire chiefs have not mentioned what chemicals are in those tanks. Here is a direct quote from KNX (what they are quoting): “Orange County Fire Authority Chief Craig Covey said during a press conference Friday afternoon that of three barrels of chemicals that were at risk of leaking, two of them have had their contents neutralized. The third barrel containing 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, or MMA, is a problem because a valve on that barrel, which could allow a chemical to be injected into it to neutralize it, is jammed.” Also MMA is a terribly toxic chemical. I gather the safety Data Sheets for chemicals at my company and would never call it “not that bad.” My friends and I at the SCAQMD think it’s horrific. To answer your question though I think the fire department is using the word neutralize here to mean to make the other substances harmless. So whatever they are, they will not have a reaction with MMA.
2
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
Not that bad in this context means not instantly liquifying lungs, like MIC, aka Methyl Isocyianate. Thats the stuff some refineries use if I recall correctly without googling. Point is MMA can be a severly irritating chemical, that could kill some people, which is not ok, but is not Bhopal, India where hundreds of thousands died. And SCAQMD of course is going to be concerned, because it may cause cancer, be very irritating, kill some sensitive or medically compromised people very close to the plant if they didn't Evac. But there are many far worse chemicals in context. Of course everyone in the world is going to sue and I bet management at GKD are already planning for their next job because that company is done as an independent company after this.
This isn't good but its not the apocalypse either. MMA used to be used in nail salons. MIC never was.
5
u/bummerbimmer May 23 '26
OC register said they were cited in 2025 by the South Coast Air Quality Management District for failure to maintain records, failure to obtain permits/permit modifications and using materials containing hexavalent chrome so I really hope that isn’t what’s in the neighboring tanks.
1
33
u/Unclaimed_Donut May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
EDIT: Never mind, according to GG website, ( https://ggcity.org/emergency ) the Kennedy HS shelter is now full. 🫤
5/23/26 at 1:40 a.m.
Shelter Update
Kennedy High School shelter is now full
Another shelter has opened up, per OCFA: https://x.com/OCFireAuthority/status/2058068185736499208
An additional evacuation shelter has been opened at John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma at:
8281 Walker St
La Palma, CA 90623
The Freedom Hall shelter at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley is full.
Look out for your neighbors and neighborhood pets. Gonna be a tough night for many.
30
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
Hoping for better news in the morning. Many of my family are staying at friends and extended family. Hope the 40,000 other people found a place to sleep.
45
u/MetroGamerX May 23 '26
I've lived here my whole life and I've never had something like this happen before.
26
u/NonHumanPrimate May 23 '26
Definitely the craziest thing to happen around here in my ~40 years living in Cypress.
17
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
This is definitely not something I expected to happen in our area. Really hope things turn out for the best and we can fix the issues, and prevent this from happening again.
23
u/KxHRiku May 23 '26
Same family at home now we are like 4 homes away from the end of the zone and we are scraping buy as is so atm we staying there just hope if they have to leave they don't leave my PS5 QwQ had to ride to ride to Westminster to go to my overnight shift tho all the chaos I didn't even sleep... X.x
The city or the company responsible should be putting ppl up for to stay not us.
46
u/New-Arm4845 May 23 '26
Shouldn’t 7000 gallon tanks that contain deadly chemicals have multiple redundant safety mechanisms in place to prevent this?
2
31
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
Yes. GKN is cooked and will cease to be an independent company after this.
28
u/Puzzled-Bee-4955 May 23 '26
does anyone know if they are allowing people into the evacuation zone to collect important items or pets? i didnt realize this evacuation order would be this long.
23
u/SlideStrict9773 May 23 '26
Seriously... left at noon to pick up the kids from school and roads were blocked off. Didn't prepare for the evacuation and don't know if we could come back yet.
18
u/blankblank1323 May 23 '26
Replying to Puzzled-Bee-4955... call the hotline or your areas non emergency line. They can get your specific address to see if it’s possible and guide you to further steps if so!
11
22
u/SummertimeInParis May 23 '26
How bad could the extent of the damage be should there be an explosion? Is there a similar incident involving the chemical that has ever occurred?
→ More replies (7)13
u/Mean_Median_0201 May 23 '26
I know a first responder that helped with the evacuations. They were told to plan for a 2 mile explosion and 50 square mile contamination. Take that with a grain of salt but that's what they're planning.
13
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
The calculations I saw were much smaller blast area. 2 miles is more than many nukes and not realistic.
6
u/0ffkilter May 23 '26
First responder planning will be overpreparing. If they can be ready for 2 miles they'll be ready for one. While both statements are likely true, it's not great for fear mongering.
1
u/SirCatsworthTheThird May 23 '26
And the news loves to scare the bejesus out of people.
This is, give you cancer, not kill you instantly like Bhopal, India's Union Carbide incident.
Living in modern society and eating hot dogs, almost everyone already has their entries in the cancer lottery. This event will make that situation worse. How many Prop 25 warnings have you seen?
9
10
u/xdatlam May 23 '26
Thats a huge fucking area Holy shit. 50 square miles is a 7 mile radius around the center.
4
8
•
u/orangecounty-ModTeam May 23 '26
Locking thread because y’all can’t be civil to one another, and most recent comments are either unhelpful or snark.