State of emergency declared over southern California chemical incident

A state of emergency was declared in Southern California on May 23, 2026, after a toxic chemical tank threatened to leak or explode, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Governor Gavin Newsom issued the declaration as authorities warned of the imminent danger. NBC News correspondent Steve Patterson reported from just outside the evacuation zone.

Trump speaks with Israel’s prime minister on potential Iran agreement 00:57 Good News: Students pay tribute to retiring bus driver 03:01 Severe weather disrupts holiday weekend travel 01:47 Trump says agreement on Iran war ‘largely negotiated’ 02:35 New concerns over use of A.I. to draft police reports 02:08 Now Playing State of emergency declared over southern California chemical incident 01:53 UP NEXT Great Americans: A conversation with Lt. Colonel WIlliam Swenson 03:40 911 call reveals details before Kyle Busch’s sudden death 02:22 Pentagon releases newly declassified UFO files 01:30 Trump’s intel chief Tulsi Gabbard steps down 01:48 Firefighters injured in shipyard explosion 01:07 Healthcare CEO apologizes for coverage problems 03:15 Trump faces GOP resistance on compensation fund, ballroom money 02:01 Students who covertly embody college mascots reveal identities at graduation 01:28 NASCAR star Kyle Busch dead at age 41 01:08 DOJ reveals criminal charges over $90 million in alleged Medicaid fraud in Minnesota 01:25 U.S. officials to divert and screen passengers coming from Ebola affected countries 02:11 Severe storms threaten holiday travel 02:08 Weekend Nightly State of emergency declared over southern California chemical incident 01:53 Copied Gov. Gavin Newsom D-CA declared a state of emergency in California on Saturday as thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes over a toxic chemical tank that, authorities say, will either leak or explode. NBC News' Steve Patterson is on the ground just outside the evacuation zone.May 23, 2026