The company that owns the Garden Grove chemical tanks that nearly exploded in May is finally hosting a community town hall five months after about 50,000 residents were forced to evacuate.
GKN Aerospace has been promising to host a community meeting since June. While Steve Carlin, senior vice president of the company, has attended several city council meetings to speak to city leaders, GKN will finally host that town hall on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
The event will be held at Delta Hotels Anaheim Garden Grove at 12021 Harbor Blvd in Garden Grove. It’s expected to include a slide presentation on the claims program, which will open for submissions earlier that same day at noon.
People deserve clear answers about compensation and GKN’s
“People deserve clear answers about compensation and GKN’s plans to operate safely,” Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein said in a statement from last week. “GKN must address the community’s questions directly and explain how it will meet its obligations to those affected.”
The town hall is also expected to feature updates on the Garden Grove GKN facility and information about safety enhancements after the chemical tank crisis.
Following the presentation, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and speak directly with GKN representatives.
The community meeting is being held in conjunction
The community meeting is being held in conjunction with GKN’s claims program that will offer $100 million worth of reimbursements to residents and businesses who suffered financial losses during the evacuations, which lasted a full week for some people.
“From the beginning, GKN has committed to making things right with people and businesses affected by the evacuation order,” GKN Senior Vice President Carlin said in a statement earlier this month. “We look forward to opening the claims program for submissions as soon as possible.”
The claims program will be open for eligible residents and businesses within the evacuation zones.
GKN will be handing out up to $300
GKN will be handing out up to $300 per night for lodgings costs, up to five nights. That reimbursement could be higher in certain circumstances.
Evacuees can also claim $50 per person per day for meals and $20 per household per day for transportation — both up to five days.
There’s also a $500 payment available per household for loss of use of residences. That payment is intended to cover costs like toiletries, clothing, pet care and child care.
Workers can also apply for $500 per day
Workers can also apply for $500 per day — up to three days — in documented lost wages if they missed work due to the evacuations.
Businesses can also apply for up to $5,000 per day in documented lost profits if the business was required to close due to the evacuations.
Residents will be able to ask questions about the claims program during tomorrow’s town hall meeting. Final eligibility and documentation requirements will be announced when the claims program opens for submissions tomorrow at noon.
To the $100 million claims program, GKN will
In addition to the $100 million claims program, GKN will be paying out nearly $8.5 million for the emergency services that responded to the incident and another $15 million in civil penalties.
GKN will also pay $1.4 million for an outside organization to oversee their operations and undertake a “robust safety and monitoring plan” for seven years.
That’s part of an agreement between OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer and GKN Aerospace to settle a civil case filed against the company.
I made it clear from the very beginning
“I made it clear from the very beginning of this emergency that I would do everything in my power to make everyone impacted – the residents, the business owners, and the first responders – whole,” Spitzer said in an Oct. 19 statement.
“In less than six months, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is putting up to $100 million back in the pockets of hardworking Orange County residents who were forced out of their homes and businesses during this hazmat incident while also providing the invaluable peace of mind that comes with the safeguards to help ensure GKN operates in adherence with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements when it resumes operations and for many years to come.”
Carlin previously said GKN brought in a panel of experts and regulatory agencies to review their systems and said they’re making a series of safety improvements.
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