Summer is the time for thunderstorms and that means there is more lightning this time of year than at any other time. Did you know that there are more than 100,000 thunderstorms in the U.S. each year and that lighting strikes more than 30 million points on the ground? So, having your house hit by lightning is more likely than you might think. Many strikes are never reported so there aren’t good statistics on house fires started by lightning, but the insurance industry estimates that 6.5 percent of all property/casualty claims are related to lightning strikes.
Most modern homes are built to absorb lightning strikes, but the typical lightning bolt is extremely hot at up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. So if your home is hit by lightning there is a very good chance of a fire. And sometimes fires are not immediately obvious. Roofing and building material can smolder before turning into full blown flames. If your house has been hit by lightning (you should know because most people report a very loud booming sound) you should immediately take the following steps:
• Get everyone out the house.
• Call the fire department – firefighters should be able to determine if there is a chance of fire even if there are no flames or smoke.
• After you call the fire department, call a licensed electrician to get your house a full electrical check-up.
Things that you can do ahead of time to protect your house include the following:
• Unplug your appliances and electronics when there is a storm nearby.
• Install surge protectors to help protect your electronics from power surges.
• Install a lightning protection system for your home. This includes a lightning rod on your roof that gives the lightning a path to follow to the ground rather than passing through the house and its wiring.
• Install a whole-house surge protector on your electric meter or electrical panel. This can be done by your electric company or a licensed electrician. This protects your home wiring and all of the appliances and electronics.
Lightning and be very dangerous. Remember that it can strike twice in the same place. The Empire State building in New York City is struck more than 100 times a year and acts as a lightning rod for other buildings around it.
*Content expressed in Home Security Source does not represent the thoughts and opinions of ADT Security Services, Inc. unless explicitly indicated.