Lightning is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a home. In fact, it is responsible for more deaths in the US than any other natural disaster. So, if you are ever in the unfortunate situation of being struck by lightning, be prepared for the worst.
What happens when lightning strikes your home? Lightning can cause a lot of damage to your home, whether it’s through direct lightning strikes or through electricity that has been knocked out. From fire to injuries it can cause a lot of property, financial, and natural life damage.
If light shines directly on your home or a portion of it, the structure may be damaged. The surface under the light source can heat up very quickly, potentially causing damage to wiring and insulation. Objects in direct line of sight can also be scorched if they’re made from materials that fire easily, such as wood or plastic.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the possible outcomes of a lightning strike, and how you can prepare for them. We’ll also provide tips on how to minimize the chances of being affected by a lightning strike, and what you can do if it does happen. Get ready for deep dive!
How Does Lightning Work
Lightning can hit any object, but it typically strikes taller objects first. This is because tall objects are more likely to hold a charge and give off more sparks when struck.
Lightening is a natural phenomenon that occurs when electric charges are attracted to one another. When these charged particles collide, they create an explosion known as a thunderstorm. The light from the explosion can be seen and heard by humans, just like any other type of noise.
Can Lightning Strike Your Home
Yes, lightning can strike your home. And while it’s rare, it does happen. In fact, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), about one out of every 10 million people is hit by lightning each year.
So, what are the consequences?
The consequences depend on the circumstances and location where the strike occurs. However, some common effects associated with a lightning strike include fear and anxiety, disorientation or loss of awareness due to flash blindness, temporary power outages lasting minutes or even hours following a storm event, and damage to electrical equipment (particularly during storms when ground currents are high), and more serious injuries such as burns or electrocution.
So, if you’re ever in danger of being struck by lightning – seek shelter immediately!
The best thing to do is stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times – if you see or hear something out of the ordinary, don’t wait to call 911. And always keep an emergency kit ready in case something goes wrong… even if it just means having candles and matches on hand. If a fire does start after a lightning strike, try not to panic – remember that flames spread rapidly in dry environments, so act quickly and calmly to prevent further damage from occurring.
Why Lightning Hit Your Home
There are many reasons why lightning can strike a home, and it’s not always clear which one is causing the problem. In most cases, however, there is usually an underlying issue that needs to be addressed before the lightning can be properly averted.
Here are some of the more common causes of lighting strikes in homes:
- Antiquated or incompatible wiring
- Obstructed/inadequate ventilation systems
- Insufficient insulation levels in walls and ceilings
- Damaged electric lines or substations
If you’re experiencing occasional lighting strikes in your home, make sure to inspect all of your electrical systems for any problems. If you find any issues, have them corrected as soon as possible so that you don’t end up with permanent damage caused by lightning!
What Happens When Lightning Strikes your house: 10 Expected Damages
A lightning strike can cause a wide variety of physical and electrical damage to buildings. It’s true – even a small bolt from the sky, and it’s important to know what you should do if you are ever struck by lighting.
Here are some things to watch for if your home was hit by lightning:
1- Power Outages: The ultimate effect of lightning is a power outage. If you experience power outages after a lightning strike, be sure to check all of your circuits and verify that the power is off at the main service panel. If it isn’t, turn off all breakers in your home and wait for backup before doing anything else.
2- Damage to electronic equipment: Many people don’t realize this but electronics like cell phones and computers can be seriously damaged by lightning. Make sure all devices are unplugged and/or protected by Faraday cages (metal boxes that block electromagnetic interference) while they’re being examined.
3- Permanent damage: Sometimes even minor damage caused by lightning can lead to more serious problems down the road. For example, charred wiring or faulty insulation may not help protect against future fires or freezes, respectively. so it’s important to get everything fixed as soon as possible!
4- Trees Damage: Trees near your house can be struck by lightning, which will start a fire that could spread to your home if it’s dry enough outside. If you see fire or smoke coming from a tree near your home, call 911 immediately. Fallen trees or branches that can crush homes or vehicles beneath them
5- Damage to wiring: A lightning strike can also damage electrical wiring near the ground. If there are any signs of this like sparks or smoke, be sure to contact an electrician ASAP so the situation can be addressed and prevent future problems.
6- Window Breakage: Sometimes lightning will strike windowpanes, which can cause them to shatter. If you see any damage like this, be sure to keep an eye on the windows in case they fall off or get stuck.
7- Water contamination: If water gets near electrical wiring or equipment, it can cause serious electric shock. Water may become contaminated, leading to water-borne illnesses such as Legionnaires’ disease.
8- Roof Damage: If lightning hits the roof of your home, it can cause damage to insulation and wiring. If lightning strikes something like a power line or antenna, it can be captured and conducted into the ground. This is dangerous because it can cause fires and damage electrical equipment.
9- Life Damage: Injuries from lightning can be quite serious, especially if they occur in areas like the head or neck. If you’re injured as a result of lightning, get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need surgery or extensive medical treatment.
10- Plumbing System: If lightning strikes your home, the electrical surge can damage plumbing systems, leading to water leaks or a total loss of water pressure. If you experience any of these symptoms after a lightning strike, contact an electrician immediately so that the issue can be addressed and prevented from happening again.
#11- Objects on Ground Damage: After a lightning strike, objects on the ground can become electrified. If you step on one of these objects, it could cause an electric shock. Be sure to avoid stepping on anything that looks like it may have been struck by lightning – just in case!
How to Know If Your Home was Hit by Lightning: 3 Signs
If you have been affected by a natural disaster (such as a tornado, hurricane, or storm), then you are likely wondering if your home was hit by lightning. Luckily, there is an easy way to find out!
The easiest way to determine if your home has been struck by lightning is to look:
- Look for signs of electrical damage.
- Anything from broken windows and roofs due to flying debris
- Look for downed power lines
- Looking for damaged insulation can all be indicative of a lightning strike.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your house, it’s important to call the appropriate authorities immediately!
When outdoors, keep as far away from tall trees and other structures as possible. And always be aware of your surroundings when near water – particularly during thunderstorms.
How To Be Prepared For Lightning
Lightening is one of the most feared things in any storm, and for good reason. It can be incredibly dangerous, damaging both people and property. So how do you prepare for it?
- If you’re planning on going outside during a storm, be sure to have an emergency plan in place. Make sure you have supplies like water, food, flashlights and batteries, and first aid kits nearby.
- The best way to protect yourself from lightning is to stay indoors during a storm. If that’s not possible or safe, make sure you have an emergency flare ready in case of danger.
- Close all doors and windows leading into your home. Make sure that all curtains are closed so no light can enter from outside.
- Warn family and friends who may be affected by the storm about your whereabouts so they know where you are located should there be an emergency.
What Can You Do to Stay Safe From Lightning While Inside Your House
Lightning can be a scary thing, but it’s not the only danger you face when indoors. Here are five measures you can take to stay safe from lightning outside your home:
- – Stay inside during a storm if possible. If you must go out, take shelter in an enclosed space such as under a roof or in a building.
- -Avoid using metal objects that could act as a conductor for electricity (such as keys, coins, and jewelry). Instead, carry plastic or rubber items that will protect you from static discharge.
- -Stay away from windows and doors unless absolutely necessary. These areas are especially prone to intense electrical activity and may result in death by electrocution if struck by lightning.
- -If outdoors during a storm and feeling sick or lightheaded, get into the safest location available – preferably inside something grounded like an exterior wall or car. Call 911 immediately if experiencing seizures or other serious symptoms of electrocution
What Should You Do If Lightning Strikes Your Home
If you are unfortunate enough to experience a lightning strike at home, there is no need to panic. In most cases, the damage caused by a lightning strike is minimal and can be repairable with a little bit of effort. Here are some tips for ensuring your safety during and after a lightning storm:
- Stay away from unprotected metal objects – If possible, stay indoors as far away from metal objects as possible. This includes anything that can conduct electricity (such as windows, doors, and poles). It also includes fences, power lines, trees, etc. If you’re within reach of any of these items while it’s raining or thundering, take steps to protect yourself by standing behind something solid.
- Secure loose objects: Make sure all sharp Objects (pets included!) are secured inside cabinets or cages in case they go flying during the storm. And if you see anything that looks like it might be dangerous outside (a tree that’s fallen onto power lines for example), please call 911 immediately! Never approach an object known to be dangerous without first consulting an expert.
- Stay calm and avoid acting out of fear or panic: Nothing will help if you make any mistakes while in the storm. So don’t panic. If you experience any of the following symptoms while inside during a lightning storm: confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizure activity, or dangerously high blood pressure – Immediately seek medical attention. These are all indications that you may have been electrocuted and should not be taken lightly. Do not drive yourself to the hospital alone – call 911 immediately!
- Try to locate an exit path: If you ARE stuck outdoors during a lightning strike and there is one nearby, try to locate an exit path. Do not go back inside! Remember: once outside, stay away from tall trees or wires – they may be carrying currents capable of blowing you far away.
- Don’t Touch Anything: And If lightning strikes a metal object, it can create dangerous currents of electricity. If you are within reach of any of these objects during a storm, take steps to protect yourself by standing behind something solid:
How to Protect Your House From Lightning
Lightning is one of the deadliest natural disasters, and it can happen to anyone at any time. If you are living in a thunderstorm zone, or if you know someone who lives in a storm-prone area, now is the time to take preventive measures.
Here are 10 tips to help protect your home from lightning:
1. Get an early warning system -Sign up for NOAA Weather Radio alerts so that you will be alerted when severe weather is headed your way. This will give you enough time to take shelter indoors before the worst happens.
2. Make sure all electrical wiring is properly insulated – Don’t use extension cords or power strips near electronic equipment; instead, install directly into wall outlets UL listed plugs and switch them on and off using simple switches rather than relying on complex controls inside appliances or lamps. Electricians often recommend installing metal conduits along interior walls and running wires through it rather than drilling holes in drywall; this protects both the walls and equipment from shorts caused by flying debris (which could ignite).
3. Protect trees – Make sure there aren’t tall trees within range of your home’s windows; they may act as “light towers” and send powerful currents straight into your house during a lightning strike. Install grounding rods around vulnerable branches close to ground level, connect them together with heavy wire mesh, then bury the whole thing deep underground. (This doesn’t mean tearing down trees!)
4 . Secure outdoor objects – Group items such as golf balls and electrical wiring together in tight containers, cover them with a metal lid or tarpaulin, and secure the whole thing with heavy-duty cord bindings.
5. Get an insurance lightning strike protection policy – This isn’t just for those living in high-risk areas; even if you live in an area that is considered “low risk”, it’s still important to have lightning protection coverage as your home may be struck by a bolt anywhere during an electric storm. The cost of such policies can vary widely, but they’re often less expensive than having to replace thousands of dollars worth of damage from a lightning strike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Lightning Strike Destroy a House?
While lightning can definitely damage a house, it is not always the case that an electrical storm will lead to its destruction. In fact, there are many cases where homes have been damaged due to other factors such as wind or rain. If you’re concerned about your home’s vulnerability to this type of damage, then you may want to contact a professional earthquake engineering consultant. They can help assess your home and recommend measures that should be taken in order to improve its resilience against natural hazards like earthquakes.
Can You Get Struck by Lightning in Your House?
While it’s technically possible to be struck by lightning while inside your own home, the odds of this happening are incredibly small. In fact, according to National Geographic, the probability of being hit by lightning in any given year is about 1 in 302,000. This means that you are almost five times more likely to be killed by a car than struck by lightning.
While it’s certainly not advisable to play around with lightning or storm clouds (or anything else for that matter), taking precautions such as staying indoors during severe weather conditions is always a good idea. Additionally, make sure to connect your appliances and electronics properly so that they’re not drawing power from outside sources during an electrical outage.
How Can I Avoid Having Light Strike My Home?
One of the best ways to avoid having light strike your home is to install a window film. This unique product dramatically reduces glare and protects your windows from UV rays, allowing you to enjoy natural sunlight without any negative effects on your eyes. Additionally, as it blocks 98% of certain UVA and UVB frequencies, window film can help protect your skin against harmful sun exposure.
Conclusion
The blog explains that lightning can cause severe damage to your house. However, if you have taken all the measures and put up safety measures like using anti-lightning rods, then there is a chance that it won’t happen again in your life.
There are other ways as well by which you can prevent damage caused by lightning strikes. One of them is placing enough importance on the quality of home insurance coverage. In case of any incident, ensure you contact a reliable insurance company who will take care of everything for you!
References:
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-lightning
