The state has approved Garden Grove to seek reimbursement for expenses tied to the Memorial Day weekend chemical emergency at GKN Aerospace, city officials said, but neighboring cities that shared evacuation orders were not as fortunate.
State to cover portion of eligible costs
Garden Grove won approval from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act to begin compiling and submitting claims for costs related to the incident. The city can submit eligible expenses for up to 75 percent reimbursement, according to state rules cited by city officials.
- Incident: overheating 34,000-gallon tank of methyl methacrylate at GKN Aerospace.
- Evacuations: orders affected roughly 50,000 residents over six cities.
- Approved reimbursement rate: up to 75% for eligible costs under CDAA.
Garden Grove spokesperson Johnathan Garcia told WE NEWS the city received formal approval on Aug. 12 to begin assembling cost documentation. "We’ve been approved to start putting all these costs together and sending them up. So that’s the work we started," Garcia said, and added there is no firm timeline yet for when any checks might arrive.
"We’re not gonna know what amount’s going to be reimbursed until we submit all of our costs, and then we’ll hear back through the CDAA process."
Neighbors seek alternatives after denials
While Garden Grove moves forward with the state process, the Governor’s Office denied Westminster’s request for assistance, the city manager said during a recent council meeting. Westminster City Manager Christine Cordon described the decision as "very disappointing," noting Westminster was among the most heavily affected of the six cities that faced evacuations.
Cordon said Westminster is pursuing other reimbursement options, including discussions with representatives working on behalf of GKN Aerospace. Last week the company announced it is "currently assessing a potential claims program that would allow eligible people to resolve claims for losses incurred in connection with the May evacuation order," though the company did not provide a timeline or details for that program.
What Garden Grove will claim
Under the CDAA process, municipal costs that may be eligible for reimbursement typically include emergency responder overtime, supplies, materials and equipment used in response to the event. Garden Grove officials have not yet submitted their full cost tally and therefore do not know the final reimbursement amount they may receive.
| Item | Potentially Eligible |
|---|---|
| Overtime for emergency personnel | Yes |
| Supplies, materials, equipment | Yes |
| Other city expenditures | Case-by-case |
Garcia cautioned that the city will not know the precise amount covered until it completes the documentation and submits claims through the state review process. The CDAA review will determine final eligibility and reimbursement amounts.
Local fallout and next steps
The methyl methacrylate event forced broad evacuations and heightened scrutiny on industrial safety and emergency preparedness across the area. Garden Grove officials are now faced with the administrative task of collecting detailed financial records from multiple departments and response agencies to maximize potential recovery under state law.
Westminster and Stanton, which also were among the communities affected by evacuation orders, must now identify alternative paths to recover costs. Westminster officials indicated they are coordinating with representatives connected to GKN Aerospace; Stanton officials have not announced a comparable avenue publicly.
For Garden Grove residents, the state approval means the city can pursue partial restitution from state coffers for the local response to the May incident. How much of the expense will ultimately be covered remains contingent on the documentation the city submits and the state review to follow.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor filings and any developments from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Assistance, Garden Grove city staff and GKN Aerospace regarding reimbursement and the company’s potential claims program.
