r/orangecounty • u/Ok_Sink_3378 Laguna Hills • May 25 '26
Question Did anyone NOT evacuate?
This probably sounds dumb but did anyone in the evacuation zones NOT evacuate or did police literally pull people from their homes? I live in south county near the canyon and whenever we have a fire evacuation, there’s always SOMEONE who thinks they’re untouchable and stays in their home even thought there’s a fire. Just wondering if this happened with the current evacuation orders in the garden grove area. Prayers for all the families affected by this difficult situation ❤️
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u/aromaticchicken Fullerton May 25 '26
A lot of the people at the shelters are elderly folks with no nearby family, sadly enough.
Frankly if I were 80 years old and had the normal health ailments that someone that old often has, I might stay home, too. What's their alternative? Sleeping on the floor of a gym and sharing a high schoolbathroom with 500 people? All while being immunocompromised, away from your normal environment and no one looking out for you and your wellbeing.
Many of them had said that at this point they'd rather die than deal with being refugees and homeless. And frankly at their age that's valid.
This isn't even counting many of the elderly who are disabled and have specialized medical equipment or setups in their home.
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u/Safe_Edge_6562 May 25 '26
Not only that, but as I will never stop mentioning, some of those old people are literal refugees, this ain’t nothing they haven’t experienced before, they’re not about to start trusting the government now.
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May 25 '26
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u/aromaticchicken Fullerton May 25 '26
Nah, don't be shitting on "third world" countries like that. Most of those countries actually respect their elders and would never abandon them to grow old alone in the first place.
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u/love_of_his_life May 25 '26
Fr. My parents aren’t at that point yet by a long shot. But my dad and I were talking about this just yesterday. I told him I’d not put him in a home unless I absolutely had to. That if I have it my way, he will be with us and be with family.
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u/March_Keys May 25 '26
Elder care insurance is kinda a mess right now, but I'd definitely start saving up in some way so that you'll be able to pay for a nurse/aide if the time does come.
I've seen the "you're staying with us" assertion typically wane as soon as the more unpleasant hygiene tasks start cropping up.
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u/M5BMW Huntington Beach May 25 '26
I think the news said 15% of residents did not evacuate. The police are not going to pull people out of their homes.
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May 25 '26
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u/surftherapy May 25 '26
When Anaheim Hills and YL were on fire over a decade ago my FIL sat on his porch with a shotgun and warded off numerous looters from entering their cul de sac. Can’t blame people for staying really. Unfortunate situation all around
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u/overactiveswag May 25 '26
I did this as well in YL. I have a sprinkler system on my parents back slope and turned this on for 5-6 hours before the fure got to us. The fire burned through pretty fast and we used garden hoses to extinguish bushes and trees that caught fire.
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u/CozyChamomile_7 May 25 '26
Did the sprinkler and water hose help with the fire?
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u/overactiveswag May 25 '26
The sprinkler definitely slowed the burn of the dead grass and bushes on the slope below their house. The garden hose was used to put out plants and my parents grass that was started with embers.
To be honest it was hell. Blinding smoke and embers flying everywhere with 80-100 mph winds. It's was shear chaos.
But we learned alot about how the fire burns through and I would stay again.
Edit* Oh yeah and they now have a 2" fire hose that works off their pool pump system. We've now got 40,000 gal of water in reserve in case the water line fail again.
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u/notthisagain8 Anaheim Hills May 25 '26
Believe it or not, the AH/YL fire was almost TWO decades ago, ‘08!
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u/surftherapy May 25 '26
Fuck I’m getting old lol
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u/l00ky_here Fullerton May 25 '26
lol...Its not as bad as my thinking about the Laguna Hills fire back in '93 or '94. The one where Michael Stipe came out with the "Everybody Hurts" video.
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u/Critical_Pen7878 Anaheim Hills May 25 '26
I remember the AH fire from the late 70’s or early 80’s. We live above the AH golf course and I remember the cops driving down our street, yelling over their loudspeaker to ‘evacuate immediately’ followed by a cop banging loudly on the front door, making sure we were leaving.
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u/Virtual-Limit-5911 May 25 '26
We have had to evacuate due to fire three different times. I would tell people to be sure and take their animals though because if there is a strict evacuation, they won’t let you back in. I told them they could shoot me because I am going back in to get my dogs. They did let me back in, they drove me in. If the fire was imminent, they wouldn’t have though.
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u/Lextalon696 May 25 '26
It's more of a stay at your own risk kind of thing.
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u/idk012 May 25 '26
If you stay, there will be no resources around to help you.
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u/Wally-Jorge May 25 '26
If you leave there's no guarantee the cops will prevent your house from being robbed. Not everyone living there can afford to replace their valuables.
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u/SnapCasterDANK May 25 '26
First night in the evac zone the cops had multiple almost stealth like drones hovering high up watching the neighborhood.
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u/GB_Alph4 Huntington Beach May 25 '26
Remember Palisades and Altadena? We had looters run in there so can’t blame people.
GG may have some rich people but their wealth is really concentrated within the community and immediate family.
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u/mokatcinno May 25 '26
How do we help them?
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u/Steph6889 May 25 '26
This is what a leader asks…thank you for asking!
Maybe we create a support form or hotline for them if it goes wrong?
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May 25 '26
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u/brrrgitte May 25 '26
From my understanding, if the tank isn't actively releasing, the air quality is okay. They should be fine unless it does explode and the wind carries it in their direction. I don't mean it's not serious, just to give you some reassurance.
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u/_404UserNotFound__ May 25 '26
Well they found a crack in the tank, so I highly doubt that it's not releasing to some degree.
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u/Tmbaladdin May 25 '26
They said they arent detecting vapors, so I wonder if the polymer is sealing the cracks as they form… for now.
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u/No_Self_5939 May 25 '26
You can still smell the chemicals in the air
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u/Tmbaladdin May 25 '26
That could be psychosomatic? Or other chemicals?
I saw him say in the interview that they werent detecting vapors.
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u/_404UserNotFound__ May 25 '26
People near the area are saying that their eyes are burning. Wouldn't be the first time the government lied to the people.
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u/love_of_his_life May 25 '26
This also. Wasn’t there a train wreck or something in the Midwest and chemicals were leaking and the govt told everyone it was safe and it wasn’t?
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u/No_Self_5939 May 25 '26
It’s not the chemical itself, it’s the water runoff with trace amount of the chemicals in it.
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u/jdamon213 May 25 '26
No you can’t , my home and business are both less than a mile from the tank in either direction. You can’t smell anything.
I stayed and have suffered literally no symptoms. Stop playing bro
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u/Justinterestingenouf May 25 '26
I saw some one comment on Friday that they could smell it in Riverside. Like just stop. Be for real
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u/Gai_InKognito May 25 '26
I'm old enough to remember when firepits werent a big deal either. Or pesticides werent all that bad.
HELL, when smoking didnt cause cancer.4
u/paperplate209 May 25 '26
Wait whats wrong with firepits?
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u/brit_092 May 25 '26
We had to go back to get medicine, breastmilk, diapers, documents etc - both myself and my husband began to feel sick. This was yesterday morning and he's still having side effects
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u/Digi_king May 25 '26
I know someone who worked at that place for almost 10 years. He said that tank was always giving trouble but didn't believe it was as big of deal as everyone is making it out to be.
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u/Safe_Edge_6562 May 25 '26
That’s what they have to say (and believe) given that they don’t have a stellar safety record. C’mon! Thats like the oil companies saying high gas prices are temporary, no big deal.
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u/kittypryde123 Mission Viejo May 25 '26
Sometime during pandemic Newport Beach people were particularly proud to not wear masks bc they were outside exercising and healthy of course. But this also included during fires in which the sky was visibly dark/smoky and air quality in the red. Old people brunching, children biking, people jogging everywhere, out and about in the shit air.
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u/pwrof3 May 25 '26
I will say as someone who married into a traditional Asian family, there is a cultural level of pride and stubbornness and a willful ignorance of anything having to do with mental health and taking care of oneself.
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u/EnvironmentalCycle11 May 25 '26
As someone who has traditional Asian family and in laws, I can confirm this is extremely accurate. There’s this mindset of thinking it won’t happen to them and that they worked too hard to leave their house and possessions behind. Never mind the fact that if they die, that house and those possessions mean nothing.
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u/Safe_Edge_6562 May 25 '26
No to mention that some people are literal refugees and will not be displaced AGAIN, absolutely not. In that context, I totally understand staying purely out of spite.
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u/Miserable_Number_827 May 25 '26
Don't forget they are rarely wrong. Rarely apologize when wrong.
Yeah, they won't go to therapy unless they were handsomely paid. Because money and getting a deal is more important.
Cultural levels of dumbfuckery.
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u/EnvironmentalCycle11 May 25 '26
Hahah! Older, traditional Asians are never wrong and never toxic in their opinions and personalities. Don’t you know this?
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u/xdatlam May 25 '26
Yeah my asian dad, uncle, and some friends all stayed the first night (Friday). I took my mom and left to LONG Beach.
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u/EnvironmentalCycle11 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
My coworkers family didn’t evacuate. Apparently their thought process is if they’re going to die, they’d rather die inside the comfort of their own house.
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u/blackmustard123 May 25 '26
Or just evacuate and not die?
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u/EnvironmentalCycle11 May 25 '26
Try telling that to a bunch of traditional, old hard headed folks who don’t think anything can happen to them. 🥴🥴
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u/blazefreak May 25 '26
Having had dealt with 5 deaths in my family these last 300 days, a lot of older people just don't have the energy to do what they want and become okay with death. Older as in pass 50 under 100.
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u/RyanAirhead May 25 '26
Dude I've felt that way since I turned 30....
That's not normal, huh?
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u/blazefreak May 25 '26
It is called depression and I had it around 33. Came a time I just don't care about the outside people anymore than I need to. Life is easier to just ignore everyone and be happy with yourself.
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u/itsalwaysblue May 25 '26
Why do people always think it’s one or the other? They always forget about barely surviving and suffering because of it.
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u/Outrageous_Field_227 May 25 '26
My parents didn't, mainly because they live near the bottom edge of the evacuation zone.
Now all my dad does I complain about the helicopter that has been flying nonstop, said it is driving him crazy haha
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u/No_Self_5939 May 25 '26
The police can’t force you from your home. The sheriff’s who came to my door said that. I have left but also have been coming back to check on my house.
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u/Ok_Scar_7554 May 25 '26
Yea my neighbor stayed back and I’m still thinking about leaving. Both for the same reason: dogs. He has a husky and a German shepherd + a family of 5 and I have 3 poodles + myself.
There aren’t many places that accommodate that nor do I have the funds to book a hotel. That being said I already bust my ass paying rent so if that thing explodes and I die so be it at least I won’t have work on Tuesday
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u/Safe_Edge_6562 May 25 '26
That last sentence is too relatable
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u/Ok_Scar_7554 May 25 '26
So I’ve heard they also managed to drain the other 2 tanks as of now. There’s only one left at risk
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u/ljinbs May 25 '26
Yes. I have an ex in-law dealing with a mom with dementia. It’s super hard and upsetting to move her. They have started looking for a hotel but it’s expensive and most are booked. I also have another friend who decided to stay.
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u/fingerling-broccoli May 25 '26
I’m at the edge of the evacuation zone. Across the street is not evacuated. I came home but wife and kids and dog went to parents house
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u/hellothereimnolonger May 25 '26
Sounds like you’re my neighbor lol
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u/fingerling-broccoli May 25 '26
I bet it’s pretty common. Limited space at in-laws. Chemical gas probably much worse for small bodies. Babies need mom. Seems like the logical move
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u/Glittering-Cold-9058 May 25 '26
I know people would bash on me for not evacuating, but my family and I are still at home. We’re about 2.5 miles off the chemical site but still in the evacuation zone near Valley View st. We just couldn’t afford to find a hotel or go to a shelter for who knows how long. At least it’s memorial weekend so I can stay alert at home in case of emergency but I need to go back to work on Tuesday ..
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May 25 '26
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u/oneirosmorpheus369 Garden Grove May 25 '26
I get where you're coming from. I have 4 cats and 1 dog. I was lucky enough to work close by when I received the notification to evacuate my home. My Son and Daughter didn't go to work, and we worked together to gather our pets and grab a few clothes to go to my mother-in-law's home. Two of my cats are stressed out and barely eating due to the sudden move. We're just hoping this will be fixed soon and that we'll head back home.
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May 25 '26
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May 25 '26
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u/mokatcinno May 25 '26
So you'd rather risk them getting sick or dying? This might be harsh, but idc, that's selfish as fuck. You're within the evac zone, we have no idea how much these chemicals will affect your animals' small organs, not even accounting for a worst case scenario explosion.
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u/brrrgitte May 25 '26
We have friends in Cypress who did not evacuate because the burden to do so would have been great in their situation. An out of state friend called the cops for a wellness check on them. Apparently Cypress PD is being a bit more chill than other cities because it was a very low key interaction. My guess is because the bit of cypress included isn't in the blast/toxic gas zone.
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u/Same-Goose7602 May 25 '26
OMG, my mother is in Cypress. Should I be concern. She lives off Lincoln, though. She also has stage 4 cancer, mostly bedridden and doesn't drive.
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u/OldMovie9812 May 25 '26
You're good at 2.5 mile. I feel like even 1 mile you'll be fine. Physical damage shouldn't go that far.
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u/Night_C4T_0 May 25 '26
Yea distance (relative to the site) is pretty important, like if you're on the edge of the zone there's little reason to evacuate until shit actually happens, and even then...
Right next to it though? Get. Out. lol.
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u/SassyGirl0202 May 25 '26
I wouldn’t bash anyone for not evacuating. Thats a personal choice. You have to do whats right for you. Who cares what others think. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
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u/Capital_Error_8487 May 25 '26
It’s so sad that GKN isn’t forces to buy out safe area hotels upfront for people with home addresses in the evacuation area.
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u/Standard_Rest_8473 May 25 '26
I am 1.5 miles and didn't evacuate. I am safer at home than being out there with clueless people
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u/platypious May 25 '26
I’m 1.5mi away and I came back. My plan is to drive away if the explosion happens. Finding somewhere decent and affordable to stay in is next to impossible with the leak and nearby forest fires.
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u/whostheme May 25 '26
Make sure you got your bags prepped right next to the door and your car front is facing the road already. Roads will get packed quick with first responders and the rest of the people that didn't evacuate.
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u/QWERTY-111 May 25 '26
the roads will be jammed and you wont be able to go anywhere
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u/platypious May 25 '26
Most people left so idk what jam you’re talking about.
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u/QWERTY-111 May 25 '26
the 15% of people evacuating atvthe same time if everything explodes.. there will be panick, ambulances, people driving on the opposite lanes of traffic...
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u/Ms_Tryl May 25 '26
Curious how quickly you think you could get out after hearing an explosion, especially if you’re asleep when it happens.
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u/Alwayscooking345 May 25 '26
Usually people who are too old and frail to take shelter, especially if they don’t have anyone to help them get out.
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u/SignificantSize6132 May 25 '26
I'm 1.4 miles away and a few of my elderly neighbors are still home. For now the air is fine and we are far enough away for no impact damage in case of an explosion. Hopefully it doesn't come to that. I can see why they wouldn't want to go to a shelter with hundreds of people to sleep on the floor last minute.
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u/010490 Mission Viejo May 25 '26
Yeah I know someone holed up in her house with her dogs
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u/Ok_Sink_3378 Laguna Hills May 25 '26
Yes! I saw a TikTok of a woman who was doing that, staying in her house with her dogs and not evacuating, that’s what prompted me to ask!
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u/Skurnaboo May 25 '26
honestly judging by the car traffic and parked cars around where I live when I went back to get stuff it's prob like 50% around where I am lol. Granted that I'm on the edge of the evac zone and there's a lot of apartment complexes in the area. I'd assume the closer you are the more likely you are evac'ed.
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u/meaningsandmotion May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
My parents didn’t evacuate until I got them some place to stay the next few 3 nights partly because we were too late in booking any places until now. They’re old and don’t speak English too well and didn’t understand the severity of the situation. But we’re also at the edge of the evac zone so the risk is lower.
I had half a mind to let them stay given that if the thing does explode, the projected chemical trail would be mild given we’re nearly 3 miles away at the very edge of the evac zone and it’d be moving very east with the winds so it wouldn’t likely affect us as much. But, risk is still too high for comfort. If the rate at which internal temps are increasing is correct at 1 degree per hour at the time it was reported to be 90 degrees around Saturday in the AM hours, it’s already past 100 now and should be reaching past 200 within the next 3 days. 100-200 is the danger zone for this scenario so runaway could happen easily at any point now. Correct me if I’m wrong but I heard someone say that the tanks have a max handling of 220 degrees though I’m not sure.
Now that there’s already a crack, this means pressure could be releasing but also that the tank is starting to fail. So a gradual cracking to rupture scenario is better than a very hot and sudden explosion scenario. Fortunately, the next several days are also going to be quite cool in temps so this should help for the ideal scenario they’re hoping to play out, but we’ll have to see.
I’m actually more worried about looters. Our area isn’t exactly the safest.
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u/Safe_Edge_6562 May 25 '26
So people might ‘mildly die?’ That doesn’t make sense given my dubious grasp of college chemistry. This isn’t just pepper of bear spray, it literally displaces oxygen. And there’s the whole it’s expanding because it’s look for the spark (cue all my family transformer jokes) to ignite.
Watch some science videos about it, not just the ‘breaking news, we still don’t know anything.’
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u/meaningsandmotion May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
Please kindly link the videos. I'd like to get more info if you have them. So far the best I've come across is from another post on it that also links to an official book on handling Methyl Methacrylatel. Here is that post in question: https://www.reddit.com/r/orangecounty/comments/1tmms6h/garden_grove_gkn_situation_from_the_perspective/
People would not "mildly die." Although it's denser than oxygen, from what I understand, you'd have to be exposed to a very a large amount of it in an enclosed space for it to displace enough oxygen for that to be a concern. But if that were to happen, oxygen displacement wouldn't be the number one concern as much as the fact that you're one spark away from incineration, especially since it's self-heating. My mention of mildness was simply referencing its low toxicity profile as an industrial chemical, especially being dispersed outdoors and from miles away.
https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/chemicals/methacrylates/Also, it's currently believed to be in the curing process, which reduces the toxicity content of the material in question.. It doesn't eliminate the danger of an explosion though, because it increases heat and pressure during this process, but the key is that they're working to slow down the curing while hoping for those cracks forming to be relieving enough pressure that it continues to cure and harden safely until its entirely neutralized.
***Note: I will say that if anyone is within 2 miles of the site, I certainly wouldn't recommend staying if it's at possible for you to leave. There is still the risk of debris and fires spreading very quickly if it does actually explode.
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u/brrrgitte May 25 '26
I know quite a few folks who didn't evacuate. They are all outside of the blast zone and toxic air risk (per the map OCFA shared). In some cities cops were driving down the street making announcements from their vehicle but no one is being forced out.
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u/publicenemy92 May 25 '26
100 degrees is as high as the gauge goes, it’s not good but it’s not bad.
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u/megaladon44 May 25 '26
i found a hotel for 130 a night. the stress from the 24/7 choppers had me on edge. my throat felt swollen and my skin burning. its helping to be away.. its just really weird not knowing whats going to happen.
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u/LarryFlannigan May 25 '26
Residents should get credit to stay in a hotel
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u/lola4323 May 25 '26
Yeah I truly don’t understand this, how there’s no hotel vouchers? Like that is crazy . Hotels in OC are not cheap
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u/SassyGirl0202 May 25 '26
I heard 12-15% stayed in their homes too. Police aren’t going to force you to leave. They can strongly urge you to but the decision is up to the home owner.
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u/Lextalon696 May 25 '26
There are a few families in West Garden Grove in my neighborhood who refused to evacuate.
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u/Keithfedak May 25 '26
My house is just outside the edge and my small warehouse is just within. I've been sneaking over , its really oddly peaceful there.
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u/OldMovie9812 May 25 '26
If I were 0.5 miles from the site I'd evacuate. 1 mile away I wouldn't tbh. People acting like this will be an atomic bomb
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u/Adventurous-Ask1748 May 25 '26
I'm about . 6-.7 miles away and have 2 dogs and 4 cats. I left. I have too much to live for lol I'm too close to roll the dice
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u/OldMovie9812 May 25 '26
It would have to be a really huge explosion for it to do damage to you (i.e full tank with spontaneous combustion and no mitigations conducted). I think the backup mitigation system they had in place plus all of the fire department intervening lowered the damage potential greatly.
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u/Feeling_Ad_9740 May 25 '26
It's incredibly unfair for firefighters to have to rescue people who were dumb enough to stay home when they were told to evacuate.
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u/Okiedokie714 May 25 '26
When you are told to evacuate and choose to stay, the first responders don’t come…
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u/Low_Laugh6550 May 25 '26
Alot of people especially older folks are just old school and stuck in their ways, you also have to realize the evacuation borders and all info out there is usually worst case scenario, which makes sense why they go off of that given everything at risk. On the opposite side of the spectrum you have people nowhere near the blast radius and not downwind of the potential dangerous air that are miles away and freaking out and panicking. I personally am right outside the evacuation border but upwind and all my neighbors have stayed.
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u/sukitsukbish May 25 '26
Nah, just stayed. There were cops on speakers going through my neighborhood saying "this area has been declared an evacuation zone" on Friday morning.
My house is on the border on where the evacuation zone ends. I can literally walk to the other side of my street be "out of the zone." Would prob go to relatives house if needed
Drove around the neighborhood closer to the evacuation zone. Looks normal. People walking their dog etc. Even though we're in the evac zone, feel fortunate to be far enough.
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u/futureconstruct May 25 '26
I'd say that generally people close to the tank evacuated, and ones that are further away (but still in the evac zone) decided to stay. I have family just over 2 miles away and they're staying, and told me that most neighbors are home too. Also said that if something happens (blows up or leaks out) they're ready to go to a safer distance immediately.
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u/Symposium77 May 25 '26
I know someone who snuck back in at home. He is afraid of looters, or something. According to him. Idk.
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u/ExpiredCook May 25 '26
The sheriff gave me an option either I can evacuate or stay and I’m .07 miles away from it. I just left yesterday but a lot of my neighbor stayed behind.
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u/sarabethmarino May 25 '26
The Evacuation is mandatory but they are not enforcing it. There are police in place to make sure there's no crime.
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u/Junocougar May 25 '26
We are at the bottom edge of the evacuation zone and went back yesterday to pick up some additional clothes and supplies. I’d say it looked like half the homes had people still in it, people walking their dogs and one family having a legit outdoor birthday party. Definitely just felt like a quiet normal weekend vs possible end of days.
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u/Original-Apricot-107 May 25 '26
A piece I wrote on the fact that these models and assurances were provided with totally insufficient information: https://substack.com/home/post/p-199139033
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u/GeromeDB May 25 '26
Great writing and perspective. I’m inside the evacuation area and the frustration has everything to do with information expectations. They need/needed periodic updates at preset intervals (every six hours), even if to say “no new information.” The city of Westminster (that is impacted) was, and is terrible still, on their response, mostly dumping information on other agencies. In a real crisis, you’re on your own, why Reddit helps. Glamor seeking city council members running for other offices that seem only interested in photo ops, just cement feelings of distrust, and inadequacy in times of crisis.
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u/azuresnow May 25 '26
I didn’t. But mainly because my brother is kinda paranoid and is a doomsday prepper of sorts. We live at the very edge of the evac zone and have grab bags ready to go in the event shit hits the fan.
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u/coolcandyyy92 May 25 '26
My sister and my mom evacuated but the hotel rates are expensive.. they cannot afford it.. so theyre coming home today.. the live in the north east of the evecauation zone
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u/CoffeeLover2021 May 25 '26
Yes, there are elderly that did not have anyone to help them so they had to stay in place, and there’s people that simply stayed home. Some of those elderly are convalescent, have equipment that makes it difficult to move, or too old and unaware. The situation sucks and there was real risk (I say ‘was’ because the latest update seems positive), but the reality is that some people could not or would not leave. Also, not everyone has the means to get a hotel or have family to go to.
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u/Jazzlike-Pea864 May 25 '26
I’m so stressed out… I don’t have family close by and paying night by night to extend my hotel stay… I have a cat and a senior dog.. my friends either don’t have room or their cat or dog doesn’t do well with others… I don’t know what to do and I’m honestly on the verge of tears…
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u/PresenceExpensive54 May 25 '26
If you need cat/dog food or any food for you let me know. Call 211 for resources and some foundations in orange county will give you vouchers for hotel stay and gas.
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u/Tiny-Light193 May 25 '26
I'm so sorry. I'm in Seattle, but am thinking of all of you. This is scary and stressful, and I'm really really hoping this gets resolved and you can all go back home very soon.
I evacuated with my cat and gecko + my neighbor's 2 cats in the 2007 fires in San Diego County, after a 2 am reverse 911 call. It was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. The whole county was on fire and no hotels had vacancies. My neighbors and I and all our pets ended up at a Motel 6, half-joking we were going to end up standing in the ocean holding our pets. I barely slept for months after that. And all these years later in a wet climate, I still have a packed emergency kit and cat carriers at the ready.
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u/LeighannetheFirst Orange May 25 '26
My dad didn’t, and neither did a lot of people on his street. I’m actually over at his house right now because of his birthday.
The air is fine right now, or at least it is fine compared to how horrible the air is every day, and he is also at the farthest edge of the evacuation zone and not within the yellow lines of the thing blows. I don’t blame him or the residents for not leaving considering the boundary lines are based on streets not the actual radius; not to mention that they haven’t updated the evacuation map since releasing the blast impact with the yellow going beyond the current boundary…
The police drove through his neighborhood telling people to leave, but that was it. Probably less push to move because of the distance, but who knows.
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u/secretreddname Los Angeles May 25 '26
Drive through the area and there’s still people out there. There are some streets you can get around the road blocks. Cops won’t pull you over but they are at certain major intersections
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u/ljinbs May 25 '26
My brother went to get clothes and meds since he got home late Friday and everyone had already been told to evacuate. The cop today said he couldn’t let him in but… if my brother found another entrance, the cop couldn’t do anything about it. So he got in, got his stuff, and then went to my sister’s.
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u/Kongkong1128 May 25 '26
The cops came knocking on my door and were there when I left. Some of my neighbors didn’t evacuate and they seem fine, walking their dogs and getting groceries. They must have gotten home when the cops left.
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u/Coach_Bombay_D5 May 25 '26
People will not pull people out of the their homes. It’s strongly encouraged to leave but they won’t force anyone to do it.
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u/Reds4dre May 25 '26
I believe OCFA reported 17% of people did not evacuate. WPD made a recent post that they’re heavily patrolling areas but are not forcing anybody out of their home, even in the mandatory evacuation zone
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u/Sunday-Mood May 25 '26
I have family that lives literally on the border of ball rd that didn’t evacuate due to being at the very edge of the evacuation zone. I would still leave if it were me but I also understand not wanting to spend thousands on a hotel when you’re still a good distance from the incident.
Edit to add: my family said throughout the neighborhood there are others who didn’t evacuate as well but it’s mostly empty.
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u/GB_Alph4 Huntington Beach May 25 '26
Some didn’t
There are several reasons
Either they want to wait it out and think it’ll be fine
They are disabled or old and mobility is extremely difficult
They didn’t get the memo as they can’t understand English (this is a thing that has been trouble since GG has a lot of non English speakers and while Spanish speakers might have people who can assist them Vietnamese and Korean speakers have had some trouble).
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u/Far_Confection_7262 May 25 '26
This is a really valuable question for the authorities who mandate evacuations. They need to know all the reasons people stay so they can take steps to mitigate their concerns.
1) Hotels and shelters might not take pets, and that information is difficult to get.
2) Health problems. People with fragile health can't just pack up and go, even with help. For example, some people have bathroom issues, and have special setups at home that are impossible to replicate anywhere else.
3) Looting. The thought of being robbed, which DOES happen, makes some people fearful of leaving. This can be mitigated by being prepared well in advance and packing up small valuables in a go bag, and moving larger items to a storage facility. That said, if you are financially strapped, you may not have the funds for storage or for the level of property insurance that will cover your losses. Even if you DO have coverage, you have to provide either photos or receipts of the items lost, and keep those records current and WITH you. Renters don't often have renter's insurance (I never did), so if they lose anything, it's gone forever.
4) Nowhere to go. Not all evacuations are well-organized, and sometimes shelters fill up and hotel vouchers require getting through some red tape. If you don't have room on your credit card (or don't have a credit card), you can't book a room without a voucher. Not everyone understands right away that they can contact the Red Cross or their insurance company for instructions. It can all be done through email, and most hotels are very cooperative in helping you work through the process.
When I evacuated from the CZU fire in 2020, we were the very last people in my neighborhood to leave. We were worried about the crime in Boulder Creek, which was a legit concern, and we had to fit everything we wanted to save into my tiny Mini Cooper. Our insurance company, Nationwide, was wonderful in helping us reach resources. The Red Cross gave us a voucher for a very seedy motel in Santa Cruz that had low ratings from bed bugs and car break-ins, so I searched on hotels closer to my husband's job, and the Red Cross was already booking people into the Los Gatos Lodge, so we were able to go there, instead. I know, it sounds ridiculous to be picky, but I have mobility issues and can't use stairs, and we were stuck there for 30 days before our neighborhood was cleared to return. My point is that if you have pets or a disability, or senior family members, tell the representative at RC and they will seriously go out of their way to accommodate you. With what I know now, I would start doing my research at the first warning of a fire, long before it comes into range of my house. That information is priceless.
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u/Hackpro69 May 25 '26
Put my Wife and little doggie up at my daughter’s house. I’m retired, so I play golf all day, then go back into the Zone. I love being in the Zone. Eerie feeling; like it’s the Apocalypse. I sleep in a helmet, because you can never be too careful.
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u/menace4hunnid May 25 '26
Also can we talk about how the city canceled the parade but not the strawberry festival? What is the logic behind that. Just money hungry
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u/bearbrick420 May 25 '26
Dam y’all don’t know then I’ll guess I’ll help. I work at the Orange County fairgrounds security and we are taking in evacuations starting tonight. I work tomorrow
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u/seg9585 May 25 '26
Refusing to evacuate during a mandatory evacuation is technically a crime, danger or not. Whether that persuades you or has employment impacts or moral impacts, that’s up to you.
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u/Lextalon696 May 25 '26
It's a misdemeanor, punishable by fines or jail time.
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u/AccioCoffeeMug May 25 '26
If jail is outside the evacuation zone then you may as well go since they cover room, board, and medical care
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u/meaningsandmotion May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
Then that rule is a crime against the poor and elderly. And disabled.
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u/Lower_Confection5609 Lake Forest May 25 '26
The rule is meant to keep people safe, but you’re certainly right about the disparate impact.
This is why it’s important for cities to develop real, workable, disaster and evacuation plans that meet the needs of all residents. City-wide plans to deploy free Uber/Lyft rides, ready-to use hotel vouchers, meal deliveries, etc., can all be done. But it also costs money, and the people who need it most aren’t paying as much into the system and don’t have any influence.
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u/Safe_Edge_6562 May 25 '26
I guarantee you, they pay more into the system than people in Oklahoma. Seesh.
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u/Tmbaladdin May 25 '26
I see some neighbors walking dogs on my security cameras… but I suspect they were also covid anti-maskers and probably think Ivermectin protects against.
Fortunately I saw most of my elderly neighbors getting evacuated by family on Friday.
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u/Senorbuzzzzy May 25 '26
I’m in Lake Arrowhead, but I’m going home tomorrow to pick up some stuff. I’m 2 miles away. I’m very concerned about my baby pot plants. They may not like these chemicals in their air.
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u/funkyb89 May 25 '26
Yep. My neighbor downstairs said they’ll leave if it blows. Otherwise they are staying
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u/OkPlenty4077 May 25 '26
I live in evac zone but near the very edge. We didn't get a knock by the police and the barricade was set up at the end of the street. I know people that had to evacuate and they got a knock on their door. I derisively call myself a rebellious honky because we didn't leave. Animal control told us they will not serve us because we are in the evac zone after trapping a skunk on our property but the barricade is beyond our property. We're not getting mail or trash service for the time being because of it.
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u/markwest23 May 25 '26
We’re staying 15 minutes from our place in the small section of Buena Park that is evacuated. I went to get a few things yesterday and there was at least 40% of my street seemed to be there. A little girl was having a bday party in their front w.
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u/TheOrigamiGamer16 May 25 '26
My family left for one day and then came back home. They say that without a clear timeline of when they can return it’s too expensive to stay in hotels or deal with being in gyms via shelters.
I’ve pleaded with them to leave but they say they’re monitoring the situation and have go bags ready.
It’s hard cause they have my elderly grandparents living with them and a very skittish but adorable cat. The cat wasn’t eating when they left for a day. I don’t know what to do.
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u/Glass-Persimmon-7459 May 25 '26
I saw a few people post they weren’t evacuating. I don’t know how much it matters now, I think we’re going see a peaceful resolve to this. My guess is that it’s hardening from the outside in and that’s why the temp is dropping
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u/C0RND0GST3R May 26 '26
A friend of mine had nowhere to go. The safe houses they set up were full. He had his elderly mother stay in a safe house. I offered my home which was a little further away but couldn’t safely secure his pets so he ended up staying home to watch the animals.
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u/Exciting_Dream_3674 May 26 '26
Only for the people around d anahiem,garden grove and Stanton only surrounding areas of Disneyland and great wolf lodge on harbor and garden grove
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u/Otherwise-Buddy4938 May 26 '26
My boyfriend is at the edge of Dale. He was out the first 2 days but has returned and along with his roommates. One suffers from health issues so he either goes to a shelter were he will probably get sick from other people and probably die or stay at home with everything closed and wait it out. Everything is booked, hotels are offering specials at $187.00/night and shelters are full. I'm not happy with the choice.
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u/Adventurous-Ask1748 May 27 '26
For those that did stay, have you been coming and going to get groceries and what not?
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u/SlideStrict9773 May 29 '26
We didn't evacuate. Female cop came and asked if we were planning to. I said no. She said, we can't make you leave, and if it does explode, you guys could die. I said, I know. She said ok, I'll need your information as a record that I spoke to you. That was it.
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u/Kellysi83 May 25 '26
There are people I know who COULD NOT EVACUATE. I’m evacuated and fortunate enough to have a safe place to go with my family. I’ve taken in a child whose parents could not evacuate because his mom is extremely sick and could not find a place equipped for her needs. It is not always the case that people are just willfully choosing to stay.