Sometimes, the sky lights up a little too close to home. Lightning strikes happen regularly, and they can cause numerous problems for homeowners. Each year, about 40 million lightning bolts strike the ground in the U.S., and you never know if Mother Nature will always spare your house. While the forces of nature are beyond your control, you should understand what to do and the precautions to take when your home is struck by lightning.
If your house is struck by lightning, you should know how to protect yourself and mitigate the damage. Below are some tips and advice related to lightning and your residence.
Signs Your House Was Struck by Lightning
Lighting carries high voltage that can cause significant damage to a house. According to the National Weather Service, a typical lightning flash is about 300 million volts, whereas household current is 120 volts. This high voltage in lightning can cause serious damage to your house and electrical devices. When it hits, lightning seeks to find the fastest route to the ground, which could be through your electrical wiring, pipes or other materials in your house.
Not all lightning strikes come with obvious signs, although you will likely hear a loud noise or see a flash outside the window. Of course, if you are sleeping or not at home, you might miss these indicators.
Unsure of whether lightning struck the outside of your home on the roof, walls or chimney? Look for these signs your house was struck by lightning:
- Shockwave damage: Direct lightning hits can cause your walls to crack and even easily split brick, stone, concrete and cinderblock. Lightning hits can also damage your chimney.
- Power surge: Lightning strikes can cause severe damage to your home’s electrical devices. If the lightning uses your electrical system as its path to the ground, the hit will cause a power surge, which can harm many electrical appliances in your home.
- Visible fire damage on your roof: Fire is one of the biggest dangers a lightning strike can cause. Lightning bolts are hot enough to start a fire on your roof, attic and shingles. A direct hit can pass through the shingles into the attic and beneath, potentially causing damage to your electrical systems.
Explore these issues in depth by learning more about what happens if your house gets struck by lightning. Take any indicators of a lightning strike seriously and unplug your electronics. Then, begin to investigate inside and outside your home.
Take Care of Lightning-Related Fires
In addition to home electrical problems, lightning can lead to fire. Immediately after a lightning strike, check out your home for indications of fire or smoldering. If you think a fire started or that a place in your home was singed, call the fire department by contacting 911.
You cannot take any fire too lightly. The faster professionals come to your home to assess any damage, the better.
Call Your Home or Renters Insurance Company
When you have proof that your home was hit and damaged by lightning, you will want to call your insurance company. This holds true whether you are a homeowner or renter. At Strock Insurance, our basic home insurance and disaster recovery policy cover lightning strike damage. If your house is struck by lightning, file your lightning insurance claims for compensation.
The agent at the other end of the phone will walk you through a list of questions. Be as thorough as you can, answering everything to the best of your ability. You do not have to know every response. Just use your best judgment and be honest.
Find Temporary Housing if Needed
Did your lightning event leave you unable to stay in your home overnight or longer? Be sure to keep any invoices if you pay for temporary housing. Your homeowner’s insurance will likely cover some of the costs.
Examine and Document Any Lightning Damage
Lightning can cause a host of physical problems, from charred roof tiles to destroyed electrical equipment. With the help of professionals, do your best to document everything. Your insurance company will also send someone to look over the damage.
During your documentation efforts, be sure to take pictures and videos when appropriate. These images will illustrate exactly what your home looked like post-lightning.
Restore Your Damaged Property
After you get the go-ahead from your insurance agent to move forward with repairs, make it your goal to get your house back to working order promptly. The sooner you fix your residence, the faster your life can return to normal.
Understanding the best practices to take after your house is struck by lightning ensures you always know what to do in an emergency, even in situations that are out of your control.
Mitigating Damage by Lightning Strikes
While you cannot prevent lightning strikes, you can guide them to minimize the damage they cause. Attach lightning rods to your roof, which direct or guide lightning into the ground along a path that reduces risks of fire and damage to your house and the electrical items inside. The rods make lightning bypass your home’s electrical system and go directly to the ground. Lightning rods connect to a big piece of copper or aluminum wire, which is attached to a conducive grid buried in the ground nearby.
In addition to lightning rods, the following can help minimize damage from lightning:
- Regular maintenance: Regularly maintaining your home’s roof, electrical systems and windows can help minimize damage from future storms.
- Installing surge protectors: Surge protectors can protect your electronic items from the indirect effect of lightning. Install them at key points of your home to safeguard the devices from future power surges.
Get Your House or Apartment Insured With Strock Insurance
When life gets unpredictable, it’s important to have an insurance provider that has you covered. We have provided competitive insurance coverage since 1983, and our home insurance packages include coverage for damage caused by lightning. Contact your local agent today, or request a quote on your next home insurance policy.
