How Likely Is It For My House To Be Struck By Lightning?
Tampa, FL, experiences thunderstorms about 87 days per year, and some call the city “the lightning capital of the world.” In “lightning alley” between Tampa and Orlando, lightning can strike up to 50 times per square mile yearly.
Statistically, the chance that your home will be struck by lightning is 1 in 200. Florida is frequently the top state for lightning-related insurance claims, with 6,003 filed in 2023 and 4,780 filed in 2024.
Understanding How a Lightning Strike Can Impact Your Home
If you notice a sudden cool breeze, see dark, ominous-looking clouds, or hear thunder rumbling in the distance, a storm is likely coming your way. Lightning can carry up to one gigavolt (GV) of electricity, which is more than enough to severely damage your electrical systems and appliances and set your house on fire. Lightning seeks the fastest path to the ground when it strikes. Whether it travels through your pipes, wiring, faucets, or other conductive materials, it can put your home and your safety at risk.
Lightning can also travel through your telephone landlines, gutters, in-ground pool plumbing, and any concrete that is fastened or supported by metal, rebar, or mesh. If lightning strikes a tree near your home, the electricity can sometimes jump to the nearest conductor, which could be your house. It can even come in through open windows and doors.
How to Prepare for a Lightning Storm
Lightning can travel up to 15 miles, and being aware of the weather in the area can help you stay prepared. Having a plan if lightning does strike can help you avert danger. Checking your local weather forecast or a weather app on your cellphone is a good way to find out if bad weather is on the way.
If you hear that severe weather is heading your way, be on guard. At minimum, shut your windows and doors, stay away from water plumbing fixtures and electrical outlets, and unplug appliances like your computer, smartphone, video game console, television, and stereo. You can also protect your home from lightning by installing equipment that diverts electricity away from your house, like:
Lightning Rods
Lightning rods draw lightning away from your home by creating a safe path for it to travel to the ground. This can keep a direct strike from doing lasting damage to the structure of your house. Still, it may not provide a complete shield against structural or electrical damage.
Surge Protectors
Surge protectors include power strips and boxes that can safeguard your appliances from power surges, but they may not be able to fully defend your electronics from a direct high-voltage strike. Still, it never hurts to install them where you’re using expensive or essential equipment. An electrician can hardwire a whole-house surge protector into your service panel to shield your entire home, but for maximum protection, you’ll need to install a grounding system.
Grounding Systems
Residential grounding systems are designed to safely direct lightning’s electrical energy away from your house and appliances and into the earth. These systems provide the best protection against a direct strike. They typically include these components:
- a copper or aluminum lightning rod (also called an air terminal) that intercepts lightning near your roof
- braided, down-conductive cables that connect the lightning rod to the ground
- copper or copper-clad steel electrodes (also called ground rods) that disperse energy into the earth
Your home’s conductive structural components, like gutters, downspouts, and roof flashings, should link to this system to prevent lightning from jumping to your house. For the best defense, consider installing a complete home lightning protection system that includes a lightning rod, a surge protector, and a grounding system.
Other Long-Term Defensive Strategies to Consider
While you’re working to safeguard your home from being struck by lightning, you also need to consider engaging in preventative maintenance that will provide protection against potentially devastating damage. Ensuring that your home’s foundation, roof, windows, and electrical systems are up to code can help them withstand future strikes.
What to Do if Your Home Is Struck By Lightning
If your home is struck by lightning, you’ll probably hear a loud crack and a boom and feel your house shake. Your house could catch fire immediately, but sometimes it takes a while for the fire to build, especially if it’s in your walls or electrical wiring. If you suspect your home is burning, call 911.
If you see flames or smoke, leave your home and go to a safe location while you wait for the fire department to arrive. Once your house is in the clear, inspect your yard for fallen power lines, and call 911 if you find them. Afterwards, you’ll need to take steps to repair your home, recoup your losses, and plan for the future.
How to Deal With Your Insurance Company
If your home is struck by lightning, you’ll need to assess the damage and make repairs as soon as possible. Contact your insurance company right away to file a claim. Most homeowners insurance policies cover lightning damage, but check your coverage to be sure.
Hire Professional Inspectors to Assess Damage
As soon as all danger has passed, it’s best to hire professional, independent inspectors to help you find and document structural and electrical damage to your home. Getting a report from an engineer or an electrician can make your claim more credible and increase your chances of receiving full compensation.
Your inspector should check all areas of your home, including your roof, walls, windows, and foundation, for evidence of a direct strike. Missing or cracked shingles, burns, shattered glass, and cracks in the foundation are common types of damage that need immediate attention.
Lightning can send huge amounts of electricity through your home’s wiring and electrical system, damaging or destroying everything from your circuit breakers to your appliances. You need to account for the impact of lightning by hiring a professional electrician to make an electrical inspection.
Your electrician can use tools like multimeters and thermal imaging cameras to search inside for electrical faults, damaged wiring, and hotspots. For Tampa, FL, residents, hiring a licensed electrician from a trusted company like Tampa Mister Sparky is key to ensuring your electrical system is functional and safe to use after being struck by lightning.
Document All Damage to Your Home
While getting a professional inspection is a key part of recovering from a lightning strike, you’ll also need to assess and document any damage to your home yourself. As soon as you can, take photos and videos of any issues you see, make lists of damage to your property, and keep receipts and records of any repairs you make. The insurance company is almost certain to use these documents to help determine your payout.
Protect Your Home From Lightning Damage With Tampa Mister Sparky
Understanding how a lightning strike can impact your Tampa, FL, home is the key to protecting your property and keeping your household safe. Investing in a lightning protection system for your home can minimize your risk of loss should the worst happen. When you’re ready to take action to shield your home against lightning, or when you need to assess and repair lightning-inflicted damage, contact Tampa Mister Sparky. Our expert electricians are ready to help, so remember: Don’t put up with any malarky; call Tampa Mister Sparky today!
