A potentially explosive tank leaking toxic chemicals in Garden Grove has forced the evacuation of some 40,000 locals — leaving shelters with lines out the door as displaced residents scramble for a place to stay.
The leak at the GKN Aerospace plant stretched into a third day Saturday as officials announced that another evacuation center opened in Huntington Beach, in addition three others in Fountain Valley, La Palma and Anaheim.
At the Fountain Valley site, lines stretched out the door on Friday night.
“I think that’s the worst part — just waiting and not knowing what’s going to happen because we all want to go home,” Jacqueline Reigos told ABC 7.
Some residents left home so fast that they residents didn’t bring vital supplies or medication with them,. They were allowed to return to retrieve some.
“I feel like the situation has escalated very quickly,” resident Diego Espinoza added”It was pretty harsh to get out of the house very quickly.”
All areas north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Monarch Street, south of Orangewood Avenue, and west of Beach Boulevard were remained evacuation orders.
The orders were issued after 34,000-gallon tank started leaking toxic methyl methacrylate on Thursday, as officials warned a day later that it was at risk of exploding. is at high risk of exploding.
“This is not precautionary… this thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when,” Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey said during a Friday afternoon press conference. “We’re doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it.”
Fire officials on Friday predicted two outcomes for the leaking tank.
“There are literally two options left remaining,” Covey said. “One, the tank fails and spills a total of about 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area. Or two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up.”
At least two additional evacuation centers opened overnight in Huntington Beach and La Palma.
Residents said they were just trying to follow what they were told.
“Got a knock on the door, and I was told we were supposed to leave so I did what I was told,” Jason Reid told ABC 7.
State and local officials are aware of the leak and are monitoring the situation.
Not all residents have evacuated. The Garden Grove Police Department says they are going door-to-door, but have a 15% refusal rate, ABC 7 reported.
