Rachel Storey was watching television Friday morning when the ceiling in her apartment collapsed. 

"From that first crackle, I knew I had to get up and get out of there," Storey said. "Just because of the way things were moving. My fan fell off the TV stand. My TV fell off the TV stand. Everything was just shaking."

The Worcester Fire Department said crews were working on the roof of the Mill Street apartment building when part of it fell in, crashing through Storey's apartment and three more floors. 

"It didn't sound like thunder. It sounded like something was falling," she said. "As soon as I went out of my bedroom, the ceiling fell through, and then I went into the living room and that ceiling was falling through."

It took her furniture and many of her belongings with it. She's lived in the residence for a few years and said most of her things are fairly new.

"I worked really hard to get in," Storey said. "I'm just dumbfounded. They should of let us know."

Storey said she didn't know crews were doing work, but thinks they were fixing cracks in the roof, which caused the ceiling to leak every time it rained.

She called it a tragedy, but was thankful she made it out in time and no one was hurt. 

"I'm glad everyone else got out OK," Storey said. "Kids and animals."