OCEA members,
Over the weekend, we shared the steps OCEA is taking in response to the ongoing hazardous materials incident in Garden Grove, including a shelter donation of 2,500 hot dogs and formal recommendations sent to the County calling for direct financial and scheduling support for approximately 175 displaced County employees.
We have heard directly from members about the real toll this emergency is taking—disrupted schedules, ongoing childcare challenges, and the strain of upended routines for entire families. These are exactly the impacts our recommendations were designed to address, and we will continue advocating for our members as the situation develops.
Below is a message sent Sunday from Chief Human Resources Officer Jamie Newton and County Executive Officer Michelle Aguirre. We are forwarding it so you have the County’s most current guidance, including information on the Employee Assistance Program and official channels for incident updates.
If you are an OCEA-represented member who has been affected and are not getting the support you need from your employer, please contact OCEA at 714-835-3355.
In Solidarity,
Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager
Dear County Family,
As emergency response operations continue through the Memorial Day weekend related to the hazardous materials incident in the Garden Grove area, we want to sincerely thank the many County employees supporting this response and serving our communities during this challenging time.
Orange County Fire Authority remains the lead agency managing the incident. Evacuation orders and road closures remain in effect. Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency for Orange County, which is helping facilitate additional State resources and support through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
Over the past several days, County employees across multiple departments have supported emergency response around the clock. This work includes staffing the County Emergency Operations Center and public information hotline, supporting shelters and reunification services, assisting vulnerable residents and older adults, maintaining traffic control and public safety operations, supporting animal care needs, providing public health coordination, assisting displaced residents with access and functional needs, helping residents access replacement ballots and voting resources, and ensuring residents receive timely and accurate information.
We also recognize that some County employees and their families may be directly impacted by evacuation orders, school closures, traffic disruptions, caregiving responsibilities, or ongoing uncertainty related to this incident. Please continue coordinating directly with your supervisors regarding any individual needs or impacts.
Taking care of ourselves and our loved ones and knowing where to turn for resources in times such as these is important. As a County employee, you and your family members have access to the County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (800) 221-0945. County employees, anyone in your household and adult children living away from home up to the age of 26 can receive up to six counseling sessions per issue at no cost, each year.
After incidents such as this, our neighbors need us more than ever. County operations outside of the evacuation zone will be open and operations will be business as usual.
For Information on the Incident:
- For official incident updates, employees are encouraged to follow the Orange County Fire Authority: X: @OCFireAuthority or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCFireAuthority
- For additional information, including shelter information, evacuation zones, and translated materials, please visit: ocgov.com
- Additional resources and public safety information is also available through: https://www.ocsheriff.gov/resources-during-disaster
Thank you for your continued professionalism and service to our communities.
Sincerely,
Michelle Aguirre
County Executive Officer, County of Orange
Jamie Newton
Chief Human Resources Officer, County of Orange
