Lightning Safety

6/18/2020 (Permalink)

Lightning strikes are a serious safety hazard and can be the cause of extensive property damage.  This is because lighting may cause fires, power surges, and shock waves.  In 2015, over 99,423 lightning claims resulted in over $700 million in property damages.  This may seem scary, but there are some easy ways to protect yourself and your home during the spring and summer seasons.

There are some important safety precautions to take when inside your home during a lightning storm.  Firstly, avoid all water sources.  This includes bathing, showering, washing dishes, etc. Lighting can travel through your home’s plumbing systems.  Secondly, avoid using electronic equipment such as computers, game systems, washers, stoves, or anything else connected to an electrical outlet.  Lastly, avoid windows, doors, porches, and concrete.  Lightning can travel through concrete due to the metal wires running through it. 

There are also some ways to directly protect your home from damages.  First, make sure to equip your home with whole-house surge protectors to protect appliances.  Second, install lighting rods to protect from a direct lightning strike.  Homes struck by a direct strike are more likely to catch on fire.  Lightning rods work by creating a conductive path for the harmful electrical discharge to follow and disperse the energy safely into the ground.