Heavy rains pounded New Jersey on Monday and caused the roof over a big box store to partially collapse, temporarily trapping two people inside, authorities said.
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Ocean Township police, Monmouth Court Sheriff’s deputies and other first responders rushed to BJ’s Wholesale Club at 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,” the sheriff added.
Videos show floods of rain water in a BJs Wholesale Store in Oakhurst, N.J., on Monday.Philip Falcetano
“This incident is another reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions,” Monmouth County 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.”
There were no injuries immediately reported.
Representatives for BJ’s Wholesale Club, with its corporate headquarters in Marlborough, Massachusetts, could not be immediately reached by NBC News for comment on Monday.
There was no answer late Monday afternoon at phone lines of the various departments inside that south Jersey location.
More than 60 million people across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast were subject flood watches on 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 past 24 hours by late Monday afternoon.