California Governor Declares State of Emergency Over Chemical Threat in Orange County
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in response to a potential chemical disaster in Orange County. The emergency proclamation aims to provide additional support to local responders dealing with a hazardous situation at a facility in Garden Grove. A storage tank containing methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical used in resins and plastics, is at risk of exploding or leaking. The tank, owned by GKN Aerospace, holds between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of the chemical and has been off-gassing, raising concerns about a possible failure. Efforts by firefighters to cool the tank with water have been unsuccessful, and emergency teams are working to neutralize the threat and prepare for potential spills or explosions. Approximately 40,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate, and state-owned properties are being used to shelter those affected.