California lawmakers have intensified pressure on the federal government over the ongoing toxic chemical emergency at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove. Congressman Derek Tran and Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla have formally urged President Donald Trump to approve a federal emergency declaration.
Last week, a tank containing MMA began to undergo a spike in temperature, which sparked the problem in the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove. The tank started to swell and eventually experienced a 'boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion.'
Evacuation orders were issued for areas north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Springdale Avenue, west of Dale Street, and south of Orangewood Avenue. Four shelters set up to help with the evacuation are now full.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and three federal legislators have urged the Trump administration to declare the chemical incident in Garden Grove a disaster. The lawmakers stated that approximately 40,000 residents and numerous businesses had already been impacted by evacuations triggered by the incident's 'extreme flammability and acute risks to public health.'
The lawmakers requested expedited federal assistance and protective measures for Orange County communities. According to a news release from Newsom, the declaration would enable the federal government to assist state and local governments with emergency protection measures through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
