“The problem with some of these buildings is, as the snow falls and freezes, it can push against the edges of the roof, and that can cause some motion that will cause rafters to collapse or to fail,” Langford said. “In some buildings that are just large, open roof area, it’s just the sheer weight. On wood that’s 100 years old, it just goes.”
4 buildings collapse in Chicago and Elgin over 3 days: Are back-to-back snowstorms pushing old roofs to the brink?
