Evacuees face uncertainty amid chemical tank crisis: 'We all want to go home'
More than 40,000 people are under evacuation orders as a result of the chemical tank crisis in Garden Grove.
The line of evacuated residents stretched out the door at the shelter set up at Freedom Hall in Fountain Valley.
Neighbors joined forces as they searched for hotel rooms after the sudden called to evacuate their Orange County homes due to the danger.
"Got a knock on the door, and I was told we were supposed to leave so I did what I was told," said Jason Reid, who went to one of the shelters.
Neighborhoods across Garden Grove, Stanton and Anaheim suddenly became ghost towns.
After rushing out in the morning, some residents like Diego Espinoza and his mother were allowed to return briefly to grab medication and other vital supplies.
"I feel like the situation has escalated very quickly," Espinoza said. "It was pretty harsh to get out of the house very quickly. We forgot a lot of stuff. That's why we came back here."
While most have heeded the warnings, some are staying behind.
Several shelters have been set up for residents and their pets, with everyone worried about how long they may be out and what could happen to their neighborhoods.
"I think that's the worst part - just waiting and not knowing what's going to happen because we all want to go home," said Jacqueline Reigos, who also had to evacuate.
