Stanton Community Rallies After Evacuation Crisis

Stanton City Councilmember Donald Torres wore a casual outfit as he dealt with the aftermath of a hasty evacuation. His attire echoed the circumstances of over 50,000 Orange County residents who had to leave their homes due to a chemical tank emergency.

Torres and his family relocated multiple times throughout the four-day ordeal. Alongside his father, girlfriend, pets, and a turtle named Squirt, Torres faced calls from concerned residents. On returning home, he found disarray but promptly joined activists to address concerns about GKN Aerospace’s facility.

Stanton, known as one of Orange County’s economically challenged and diverse cities, felt overlooked during the crisis. While the media concentrated on larger Garden Grove, 85% of Stanton was evacuated, directly impacted by the potential chemical threat.

“As Stanton residents call me, I hear the hardship and a lack of adequate resources,” Torres stated, urging action for better support.

After the news conference, Torres connected with various local activists, including Carlos Perea from the Harbor Institute. Perea emphasized the need for more attention to Latino communities, which form a significant part of Stanton’s population.

Throughout the crisis, Torres communicated with state and local officials to explore ways to support displaced residents. He aims to procure vouchers and seek aid for businesses affected by the closure.

The history of Stanton includes overcoming prejudice from neighboring cities. Mayor David Shawver, a resident for 55 years, highlighted Stanton’s progress and the continuing support from surrounding communities.

Local businesses suffered during the crisis. Adalberto Barreda Valencia, a store owner, shared stories of discarded goods and financial strain. Despite adversity, business owners like Barreda Valencia persist with resilience.

Other business owners echoed this struggle, from Esperanza Cancharí’s bakery losing fresh pan dulce to Carlos Gomez’s hair salon seeing cancellations. Retailers like Island Liquor faced closures during peak periods but understood the need for safety.

At Cerritos Nutrition, Maria Ngo worked to recover from inventory losses. She, like many others, wondered about the future safety of the area.

Torres reassured, “Authorities have mostly neutralized the situation,” but the uncertainty lingers, prompting residents like Ngo to ask, “So are we going to be OK?”