[kellyhound]

All 27 people inside the BJ's Wholesale Club in Ocean Township, New Jersey are safe after a massive partial roof collapse occurred during a severe flash flooding storm on July 6, 2026.

The collapse happened at roughly 11:30 a.m. at the store located on Route 35 in the Oakhurst neighborhood. Approximately 20% of the roof caved in directly over the bakery section at the back-left side of the store.

Witnesses inside reported hearing a thunderous boom that made their ears ring, immediately followed by a massive torrent of rainwater and debris crashing into the building.

The region was heavily battered by intense storms moving across the mid-Atlantic. The area saw up to 6 inches of rain accumulate within 24 hours, with rainfall rates hitting a brutal 2 inches per hour right before the roof failed.

While a structural engineer is conducting a full investigation to determine if the building can be repaired or must be torn down, initial expert assessments point toward roof ponding.

This happens when severe rain overloads drains (or secondary overflow drains become blocked), leading to thousands of pounds of standing water weight that flat-roof commercial buildings are not built to withstand.

[Mr.NoCredit]

Roof ponding.

Fish up there maybe!?!