California asks Trump for emergency declaration over toxic chemical threat
California has asked President Trump for an emergency declaration as crews try to prevent a toxic chemical tank from leaking or exploding at an aerospace facility in Orange County, where tens of thousands of residents have been affected by evacuations and safety measures.
The incident began on May 21 at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, a city in Orange County southeast of Los Angeles. The facility is operated by GKN Aerospace, a UK-based company that supplies parts for aircraft.
Authorities have been trying to stabilize a tank containing about 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical used to make plastic. Officials have warned that the tank is under pressure and at risk of failure, creating the possibility of a toxic chemical leak or explosion.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said California submitted a request late Saturday for an emergency declaration to support response operations in Orange County. Newsom declared a state of emergency for the county a day earlier.
An emergency declaration would allow FEMA to support state and local governments with emergency protective measures, including evacuations, sheltering, emergency medical support, personnel, specialized equipment and technical assistance.
Representative Derek Tran and California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla also sent a letter to Trump in support of the request, saying the crisis remains unresolved and there is still an imminent threat of a toxic chemical leakage or explosion.
“This highly volatile situation has already forced the evacuation of approximately 40,000 residents and many businesses due to the chemical’s extreme flammability and acute risks to public health,” the lawmakers wrote.
Orange County Fire Authority Interim Fire Chief T. McGovern said in an update on Sunday that crews carried out a late-night operation to visually inspect the tank after assembling a specialized team.
“What they found was a potential crack in the tank, which could potentially be relieving some of the pressure in there,” McGovern said. “With this new information, it could change our trajectory and our strategy to this event.”
Emergency crews have been spraying the tank with water to try to stabilize its temperature. Officials have also been developing containment measures, including dikes and dams, in case chemicals spill from the tank.
Local schools have closed as a precaution, and exits from several major roads have been shut to limit access to the area. The cause of the tank failure remains under investigation.
The post California asks Trump for emergency declaration over toxic chemical threat appeared first on BNO News.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
