ANAHEIM, Calif. — GKN Aerospace (GKN) has announced plans to establish a claims program that will provide up to $100 million to residents and businesses affected by the May evacuation in Garden Grove. The program is designed to allow individuals and commercial entities to seek compensation for eligible evacuation-related expenses and losses. GKN Aerospace anticipates that it will begin processing claims in fall 2026. Further details regarding eligibility and the claims filing process are expected to be announced soon, with GKN indicating that information would be made available on a dedicated website.
This announcement comes as cleanup operations from the chemical incident continue. The removal of dried, neutralized methyl methacrylate from two storage tanks at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove was set to begin on Monday, June 29, following an earlier attempted removal in early June and the chemical scare over the Memorial Day weekend. This work is expected to span several days, concluding by Wednesday, July 2. The Orange County Health Care Agency and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are overseeing these cleanup efforts.
Throughout the cleanup and removal process, residents and others in the area around Western Avenue south of Chapman Avenue may experience passing odors, which have been described as fruity or plastic-like. Officials have stated that any air exposure is expected to remain below levels of concern, and there are no major air contamination or other concerns. The chemical, used to create hard plastics, is known to produce a strong smell even at levels considered safe. The Orange County Health Care Agency is managing the removal of the tank material, which will be transported for safe disposal, with assurances that daily activities in west Anaheim and surrounding areas can continue without concern.
Earlier in the year, other avenues of assistance for impacted households and businesses were made available. United Way Orange County's OC Community Resilience Fund, which received $3 million in funding from GKN Aerospace, closed on June 12 after accepting over 6,100 applications for $500 in assistance. This fund offered one-time gift cards to documented evacuated households and businesses to help offset impacts experienced during the May 21-26 incident. Processing of remaining applications continues, though due to a private company being responsible for the incident, some typical sources of resident assistance often seen with natural disasters were not available.
Additionally, low-interest federal disaster loans became available for impacted small businesses and nonprofits through the Small Business Administration (SBA). These loans are accessible to eligible entities in Anaheim and neighboring affected cities, including Stanton, Garden Grove, and Buena Park. Designed to assist with financial losses directly linked to the incident between May 21-26, the loans offer working capital for expenses such as debt, payroll, and bills. Loan amounts can reach up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for nonprofits, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until one year after the initial funding date. SBA representatives were available at a Garden Grove recovery center, located at the Euclid Office Building, First Floor, 12966 Euclid St., starting June 16 to provide assistance with applications, with an option to apply online or by phone.
Separately, several pending lawsuits against GKN Aerospace have been noted by the City of Anaheim, which stated it is not involved in litigation at this time and cannot refer to any specific legal firm or claim.
All evacuations stemming from the incident were lifted by Monday and Tuesday, May 25-26, with only a restricted access area of approximately 150 feet immediately around the tank remaining as crews continued their work. The management of the site has transitioned from county and city emergency responders to the OC Health Care Agency, which now oversees cleanup and waste removal operations.
