A large emergency response was triggered in Monmouth County, New Jersey, on Monday after a partial roof collapse at a local BJ's Wholesale Club trapped multiple people inside during a wave of severe weather.
Emergency personnel rushed to the BJ's Wholesale Club on Route 35 in Ocean Township just after 11:15 a.m. local time, responding to the collapse. The incident occurred while severe weather was battering the area, leading to ongoing flooding.
Shocking video appeared to show unsuspecting shoppers looking at grocery items seconds before the roof collapsed, sending a large amount of water gushing into the business. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although 27 people were inside the building at the time of the incident.
Two people were partially entrapped in the debris but managed to free themselves and safely escape the building. Emergency teams deployed specialized rescue units to ensure the building was clear, conducting primary and secondary searches.
The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office interior drone searched the structurally compromised building, along with New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) K-9 teams. The teams worked "seamlessly together" despite the severe weather and ongoing flooding, according to the sheriff's office.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden praised the first responders for their heroic efforts. He noted that the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions.
Ocean Township Police Chief Michael Sorrentino urged motorists and residents to stay away from the area as emergency operations continue. Travelers are asked to avoid Route 35, Park Avenue, and Deal Road, specifically the stretch between Routes 18 and 35.
