Updated Evacuation Map for Garden Grove

A hazardous materials emergency in Garden Grove entered a fourth day on Sunday, with evacuation orders still covering parts of Garden Grove, Anaheim and nearby communities as crews monitored an overheating chemical tank at an aerospace facility. Anaheim said at 6 a.m. on May 24 that there had been no expansion or change to the evacuation area overnight and that the risk of explosion remained. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Orange County on May 23 as local and state agencies continued the response. Officials have directed residents to online evacuation maps and public hotlines for the latest boundary changes and shelter information. ### Which facility is at the center of the evacuation? The incident began on May 21 at 12100 Western Avenue in Garden Grove, according to CAL FIRE’s incident page, which lists the Orange County Fire Authority as the agency with jurisdiction. Anaheim said the problem is an overheating tank at an aerospace company and identified the chemical inside as methyl methacrylate, a precursor used to make hardened plastic components for aerospace. Media reports identified the site as a GKN Aerospace facility. (anaheim.net) Methyl methacrylate is highly flammable, according to public officials cited by LAist, and emergency managers have focused on the possibility that the tank could rupture or explode. Anaheim said firefighters and hazmat specialists were continuing to cool the tank with sprinklers and firehoses while incident managers and company officials explored ways to “diffuse the tank issue.” (fire.ca.gov) ### Where does the evacuation zone currently run? CAL FIRE’s evacuation page lists the order area as north of Ball Road, east of Dale Street, south of Trask Avenue and west of Valley View Street. The page labels the order an “Immediate threat to life” and says residents in the zone should leave now. Anaheim said Sunday there had been no expansion or change to the evacuation area at that point. (laist.com) City agencies in neighboring jurisdictions have told residents to use official maps rather than rely on static images circulating online. Santa Ana said the incident was not affecting its residents but pointed people to Garden Grove’s evacuation map, while Newsom’s office also directed residents to the city of Garden Grove website for the latest map. ### How many people and schools have been affected? (fire.ca.gov) CBS Los Angeles reported on May 23 that more than 50,000 Orange County residents had been placed under mandatory evacuation orders. Earlier reports described the evacuation area as affecting tens of thousands of residents around the industrial corridor near the 22 Freeway. Garden Grove Unified School District said 13 schools and two district facilities were evacuated early on May 22 under Orange County Fire Authority orders. (santa-ana.org) The district named Alamitos, Barker, Bell, Bryant, Carver, Enders, Garden Park, Lawrence, Pacifica, Patton, Rancho Alamitos, Skylark and Wakeham, along with the Chapman-Hettinga maintenance and operations center and Lampson Yard. ### Where can evacuees go for shelter and updates? (cbsnews.com) CAL FIRE listed shelters at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma and Mile Square Regional Park’s Freedom Hall in Fountain Valley. The agency also listed care centers in Buena Park and Westminster and published a public information hotline at (714) 628-7085. (ggusd.us) Garden Grove Unified said on May 22 that a reunification center had been set up at the Community Recreation Center at 13641 Deodara Drive in Garden Grove and that a temporary shelter was available at Stanton City Hall, 7800 Katella Avenue. Anaheim said its resident call center was operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (714) 765-4333, while Garden Grove’s 24-hour call center was listed at (714) 741-5444. ### What should residents watch for next? (fire.ca.gov) Anaheim said on May 24 that there were still no updates on when evacuation orders might be lifted and told evacuees to prepare to remain away from home “for the foreseeable future.” Newsom’s emergency proclamation said state-owned properties and fairgrounds could be made available for shelter as needed. Officials in Garden Grove, Anaheim and Orange County have continued to direct residents to official evacuation maps, hotline numbers and agency updates as crews assess the tank and any change in risk. (ggusd.us) (anaheim.net)