Strong whipping winds blew over a vacant building in Elizabeth Wednesday.

The three-story building on East Grand Street was under construction and in disrepair before it became a pile or rubble, residents say. Elizabeth Deputy Fire Chief Donald Peterson says the winds played a major part in the structure?s collapse.

No one was working or walking nearby when the structure collapsed, but officials still searched the site to make sure everyone was out. Only a car parked nearby suffered damage when the building went down.

The National Weather Service reported winds by shore as high as 54 mph. There were numerous reports of downed trees, and local airports experienced significant delays.