280 Apartment Units Evacuated After Ceiling Collapse In Edison

EDISON, NJ — Around 280 apartment units at Evergreen Meadows in Edison were evacuated over the weekend following a ceiling collapse in one of the units, officials said.

This was the second incident in a week. No injuries were reported.

Officials rushed to inspect 12 buildings and 11 were deemed uninhabitable, authorities said.

The evacuation of the buildings took place Friday as severe thunderstorms threatened the area.

The ceiling of the first apartment collapsed on Aug. 3 followed by the one on Friday, which prompted officials to declare the structure unsafe and move residents to temporary housing, Mayor Sam Joshi said.

Accommodation was provided at local hotels and at the township's staging center at Edison Senior Center 2963 Woodbridge Ave.

The management company agreed to pay for the cost of hotel accommodations.

As of Monday morning, 146 units had repairs completed, inspected and residents were permitted to move back in.

"The rest of the units were authorized for another night's stay at a nearby hotel," Joshi said.

"We are hoping that all residents will be able to move back in later today."

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