PARTIAL ROOF COLLAPSE AT NEW JERSEY BJ’S STORE DURING FLASH FLOODING; NO INJURIES REPORTED
OAKHURST, New Jersey — No injuries were reported after part of the roof at a BJ’s Wholesale Club collapsed Tuesday morning as severe storms brought flash flooding to Monmouth County.
Officials said torrential rainfall overwhelmed the building’s flat roof, causing approximately 20% of the structure to give way around 11:30 a.m. The collapse sent a large volume of water crashing into the store’s bakery and chip aisles.
At the time of the incident, 27 employees and customers were inside the building. Two shoppers were initially pinned by falling debris but were able to free themselves before safely evacuating with everyone else.
The Ocean Township Police Department activated mass casualty protocols after receiving initial reports of trapped victims. Urban search and rescue teams, along with K-9 units and drones, conducted primary and secondary searches of the building and confirmed that all occupants had been accounted for.
The severe storm dropped as much as 6 inches of rain across Monmouth County, causing widespread flash flooding throughout the area.
Due to the dangerous weather conditions, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office urged residents to stay off the roads and avoid the areas surrounding Route 35, Park Avenue, and Deal Road while emergency crews continued their response.
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