California Governor Declares State of Emergency as Hazardous Chemical Tank Threatens Explosion
Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County after a failing chemical storage tank threatened catastrophic explosion, prompting evacuation of 40,000 residents.
Emergency Declaration in Southern California
Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon, allowing resources to flow to the scene. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services has been mobilized for more than 24 hours and state agencies are supporting impacted communities to protect public safety and assist local officials.
Scale of Evacuation
About 40,000 people were under evacuation orders and schools shut down Friday in Southern California after a storage tank continued to leak a hazardous chemical that officials said could rupture or explode. The chemical leak poses severe environmental risks if not contained.
Mitigation Efforts
The diversion would prevent the toxic chemical from reaching storm drains, river channels and the ocean, preventing an "environmental disaster." "Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us," Covey said, noting that experts from across the country are consulting on the crisis.
Offensive Operations Launched
Covey said Saturday evening that firefighters were beginning to shift from a defensive to an offensive operation and were entering the hazard area to try to mitigate the issue "at great personal risk." Specialized hazmat teams and engineering experts from across the nation have been mobilized. The tank's structural integrity remains a critical concern as authorities work to prevent a catastrophic rupture.