Following the conclusion of the Orange County District Attorney's criminal investigation into a days-long chemical crisis at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove that forced tens of thousands to flee their homes, a $100 million damages claim program has been established for people impacted by the incident.
In a news release shared by the DA's Office, prosecutors said that they negotiated the program to allow residents and businesses that were forced to evacuate during the May 2026 incident the opportunity for reimbursement. The release said that the program will be administered by a third party that isn't affiliated with GKN and will examine claims for expenses during the incident that include hotel stays, loss of use and per diem compensation for meals, transportation and loss of wages.
The announcement comes more than three months after 50,000 Orange County residents in six neighborhoods surrounding the aerospace facility had to flee their homes due to the potential risk of what Orange County Fire Authority firefighters called a "catastrophic explosion" from a compromised tank containing methyl methacrylate, a "highly volatile" substance used in the production of plastics.
While the incident was still developing back in May, OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the leak. Now, after several months of investigation that included on-site inspections, record review and expert consultation, the DA's office said that its investigation has concluded and that they are now negotiating towards a civil disposition with GKN.
"I promised the residents of Orange County that I would do everything in my power to make the tens of thousands of residents who were forced from their homes due to this emergency whole," said a statement from Spitzer. "The community has an absolute expectation that businesses operating within their neighborhoods operate safely and lawfully, and I am pleased that GKN has been and continues to be responsive to any and all requests throughout this investigation."
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