Orange County residents who were forced to evacuate after a chemical tank nearly exploded on the edge of Garden Grove and Stanton last month can no longer apply for assistance to a $3 million fund created to help cover costs for families and businesses. 

Read: $3 Million Fund Created to Help Residents Impacted by OC Chemical Tank Emergency

The closure came after the fund received over 6,000 applications according to an unsigned statement from the leaders of United Way, the nonprofit managing the funds. 

“Due to the volume of applications received, and funding available, we are no longer accepting new applications,” reads the Jun. 12 statement. “Our focus is on reviewing the applications already received, confirming eligibility, and collecting required documentation so electronic gift cards can be distributed as quickly as possible.”

There were roughly 50,000 people evacuated amid concerns the tank could detonate due to overheating or spill toxic chemicals into the surrounding area, but firefighters were able to contain the tank safely. 

For residents who did manage to submit an application to the fund, many have received a response saying they will hear back within five business days on the status of their application after the initial screening. 

Elizabeth Andrade, executive director of 211 OC, which is helping United Way communicate with impacted residents, said in an interview earlier this month that they started with a turnaround time that was much shorter.  

“We’re trying to make it as simple and quick as possible for folks,” Andrade said in a Jun. 4 interview. “We are processing daily, so by the time someone has verified our finance team is turning that around in 24 hours…we’re talking about a couple of days maximum.” 

The fund was open for just over a week, and could cover costs for up to $500 per household, with most of its funding coming from GKN Aerospace, the company behind the chemical tank. 

But the company has resisted calls from county and city leaders for a broader reimbursement plan, with many pointing out that thousands of county residents had to pay for food, hotel rooms and other disaster assistance without any guarantee of reimbursement. 

Congressman Derek Tran, who represents the area that was impacted by the evacuations, said he wants to see them doing more. 

“While this decision is a necessary acknowledgment that they have broken faith with our community, it is insufficient,” Tran wrote in a Jun. 3 statement. “Every family and small business that was displaced or shut down during this crisis deserves full compensation. I expressed that this is non-negotiable.” 

A spokesperson for GKN did not respond to requests for comment on Monday morning. 

An executive from the company recently pledged they would host a town hall meeting for residents impacted by the spill at a Garden Grove City Council meeting, but no details about that town hall have yet been released by the company. 

Read: GKN Aerospace Faces The Public, Promises Town Hall After Garden Grove Chemical Tank Crisis

County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who represents the area as well, also called out GKN for not doing more at last Tuesday’s board meeting, noting that trying to get ahold of someone to ask about the fund took her office two hours on the phone. 

“Thousands of people have spent their hard earned money evacuating for up to five days,” Nguyen said. “While GKN has stepped up with a $3 million fund through United Way, this is not nearly enough.”

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.