The company at the center of last month’s chemical tank crisis in Garden Grove that prompted tens of thousands of people to evacuate announced on Wednesday $4 million in community initiatives to help those who were impacted.
GKN Aerospace said $3 million will go toward the Orange County United Way’s OC Community Resilience Fund, adding that it has committed another $1 million to support other community initiatives across the county.
“By working with a trusted local organization with the infrastructure to mobilize resources quickly, we hope to help expedite assistance to those most in need,” GKN senior vice president Steve Carlin said in a news release. “We will continue to engage with community leaders, work with the authorities, and help the community move forward.”
The hazardous materials situation began on May 21 when firefighters responded to reports of a problem with a storage tank containing thousands of gallons of a flammable liquid called methyl methacrylate at the Garden Grove facility.
About 50,000 people in Orange County were under evacuation orders as authorities and experts from across the country worked to find a solution to avoid a possible catastrophic explosion. Many were staying at shelters that were quickly reaching capacity.
Some evacuees say they had no choice but to sleep in their cars because the emergency shelters were full. Camilla Rambaldi reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Four days later, fire authorities announced a crack in the tank was allowing pressure to release and that the threat of a powerful explosion had been eliminated, allowing about 65% of evacuees to return home. The remaining evacuation orders were lifted on May 26.
The cleanup process is ongoing. The Orange County Health Care Agency announced earlier this week that the neutralized chemical is expected to be taken out of the tank and put into sealed trucks to be transported and disposed of between Thursday and Friday. People might notice temporary fruity or plastic-like smells during that time, officials said.
“The product has a very low odor threshold, meaning people may notice a scent even when concentrations are well below levels associated with health concerns,” the agency said, adding that air monitoring will be conducted throughout the process.
The OC Community Resilience Fund provides short-term assistance to residents and businesses in need, according to Orange County United Way’s website.
For more information about available funds and resources, you are encouraged to call 2-1-1, option 7.