Roof collapses at BJ's Wholesale Club amid severe storms
Several days of extreme heat and severe storms culminated in a partial roof collapse at a BJ's Wholesale Club in New Jersey on July 6.
In a Facebook post, authorities in Ocean Township and Monmouth County, located roughly 45 miles south of Newark, announced that first responders were on the scene of a roof collapse at BJ's Wholesale Club.
Here's what you should know about the incident.
27 people escape safely
According to the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, emergency personnel were dispatched to the BJ's site at around 11:15 a.m. ET on July 6, following reports of a partial roof collapse.
Twenty-seven people were inside the building, two of whom got stuck before ultimately freeing themselves and exiting the building. No one was injured during the incident.
First responders brave continued flooding
Numerous agencies responded to the scene, including personnel from local, county and regional emergency services. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office used its interior drone, along with the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue K-9 teams, to conduct sweeps of the building.
"This incident is another reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions," said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden. "We commend all first responders who worked with urgency under challenging circumstances."
Golden said that in the face of continuing floods and severe weather, all of the agencies "worked seamlessly together to ensure everyone was safely accounted for," adding, "Their dedication and teamwork exemplify the very best of public safety."
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Roof collapses at BJ's Wholesale Club amid severe storms
Reporting by Drew Pittock, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 9:31 PM.