BJ’s roof collapses during heavy rain in New Jersey

Heavy rain pounded New Jersey on Monday and caused the roof over a big box store to partially collapse, temporarily trapping two people inside, authorities said. Ocean Township police, Monmouth Court sheriff’s deputies and other first responders rushed to BJ’s Wholesale Club about 11:16 a.m., the sheriff’s office said. There were 27 people inside the store when the ceiling fell, and two “individuals were partially entrapped but were able to free themselves and safely exit the structure,” it added. “This incident is another reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “We commend all first responders who worked with urgency under challenging circumstances. Despite the ongoing flooding and severe weather affecting our communities, all worked seamlessly together to ensure everyone was safely accounted for. Their dedication and teamwork exemplify the very best of public safety.” No injuries were immediately reported. Representatives for BJ’s Wholesale Club, whose corporate headquarters are in Marlborough, Massachusetts, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. There was no answer late Monday afternoon at phone lines of the various departments inside the south Jersey location. More than 60 million people across the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast were subject to flood watches Monday afternoon. At least 3 inches of rain had fallen on nearby communities such as Philadelphia (3.22 inches), Cherry Hill (3.60), Oceanport (3.51) and Cream Ridge (3.14) in the previous 24 hours by late Monday afternoon.