Lightning Strikes: Are You Insured?

If lightning strikes your house, it can wreak havoc on your home's electrical system, appliances, and electronics. Luckily, homeowners insurance generally covers damage from lightning strikes, although there are some exceptions. Lightning strikes are covered perils in almost all homeowners insurance policies, and if the lightning causes a fire, your dwelling coverage may pay to repair or replace your home's structure. Your personal property coverage may also help replace damaged items in an attached structure or an electrical appliance. If you're unable to live in your residence while it's being repaired due to lightning strike damage, loss of use coverage may pay for a hotel stay and meals.

Lightning insurance coverage for homeowners

Lightning strikes can cause a lot of damage to your home and your possessions. Luckily, most standard homeowners insurance policies cover lightning strikes as a peril. This includes damage to the structure of your home and your personal property.

Lightning insurance covers damage to the structure of your home, including the roof, shingles, electrical systems, insulation, and more. It also covers damage to personal property, such as electronics, appliances, and furnishings. If your home is rendered uninhabitable due to lightning damage, lightning insurance will also cover the cost of living elsewhere while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. This is known as additional living expenses coverage or loss of use coverage.

There are three main types of lightning strikes that insurance companies typically cover:

• Lightning strike: When lightning enters and passes through your home or property on its way from the atmosphere to the ground. This type of lightning strike typically causes the most damage, including fire and charring, and is the easiest type of claim to collect as the damage is evident.
• Near miss: When lightning strikes near your home but does not hit it directly. This type of strike usually causes less damage and it can be more difficult for the insurance company to determine the cause of the damage.
• Ground surge: When a lightning strike causes a spike in electricity throughout an area. This is the most common lightning-related claim but it can be difficult to prove, so fewer claims are paid out for this type of damage.

The assessment of lightning damage depends on your specific insurer and the type of damage that was done. Generally, an insurance adjuster will inspect the damage to your home and offer a settlement for repairs. The settlement is usually paid in two installments: the first half is for beginning repairs, and the second half is for the remaining cost of repairs.

• Have working smoke detectors, flashlights, and fire extinguishers on each floor of your home.
• Plug your appliances and electronics into compatible surge protectors.
• Stay indoors during a thunderstorm and avoid contact with standing water.
• Be aware of the season—lightning usually strikes more frequently on late summer afternoons and evenings.
• Install a lightning protection system to intercept lightning strikes and offer a safe path to dissipate dangerous electricity.

What to do if lightning strikes your house

If lightning strikes your house, there are several steps you should take to ensure your safety and mitigate potential damage. Here is a detailed guide on what to do if lightning strikes your home:

• Call the fire department: Lightning strikes can often cause fires, especially in the attic and within walls. These fires may not be immediately visible, so it is crucial to call the fire department as soon as possible to ensure any potential fires are extinguished.
• Stay away from conductive paths: Lightning can travel through conductive materials such as wiring, pipes, metal window frames, and plumbing. During and after a lightning strike, avoid contact with these materials to reduce the risk of electric shock or injury.
• Unplug electrical devices: If possible and safe to do so, unplug all electrical devices and appliances. A power surge caused by lightning can fry electronics that are plugged in. However, do not unplug equipment during the thunderstorm, as there is a risk of being struck.
• Contact an electrician: Consider reaching out to a licensed electrician to inspect your home's electrical system for any damage. They can help identify potential fire hazards or issues with your wiring that may have been caused by the lightning strike.
• Assess the damage: Once the immediate dangers have passed and it is safe to do so, thoroughly inspect your property for any signs of damage. Take photos and videos of any visible damage to your home, including the roof, walls, windows, and surrounding areas.
• Contact your insurance provider: Most homeowners' insurance policies cover lightning strikes and the resulting damage. Contact your insurance provider to initiate the claims process and receive guidance on the next steps. They will likely send an adjuster to assess the damage and determine the appropriate compensation.
• Be cautious of fallen trees: If there are any trees near your home that have been struck by lightning and fallen, causing damage to your property, document the damage with photos. Your insurance policy may cover the cost of removing the tree and repairing any damage it caused.
• Protect yourself during thunderstorms: Remember to take precautionary measures during thunderstorms, such as staying indoors, avoiding conductive materials, and wearing shoes if walking on wet or damp surfaces.

Lightning protection systems

A complete lightning protection system typically includes the following elements:

• Strike termination devices: These are designed to accept direct lightning attachments and pull lightning into the protection system. They are usually made of copper or aluminium and are unobtrusive for ease of mounting and aesthetic reasons.
• Cable conductors: These route the lightning current over and through the construction, connecting the strike terminations at the top to the grounding system at the bottom. They are made of highly conductive copper or aluminium.
• Grounding electrode system: This system moves the lightning away from the structure and into the earth. It consists of grounding electrodes that provide proper earth contact to disperse the charge.
• Bonding or interconnection: This eliminates the opportunity for lightning to side-flash internally by interconnecting the lightning protection system to other internal grounded metallic systems.
• Surge protection devices: These are installed at every service entrance to stop the intrusion of lightning from utility lines and equalize potential between grounded systems during lightning events.

The design and installation of lightning protection systems should follow established standards and guidelines, such as the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Standard #780 and the Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) Standard 96. The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting lightning protection education, awareness, and safety. They provide resources and certification for installers and inspectors to ensure the highest quality and safety of lightning protection systems.

Power surges caused by lightning

Power surges are a common occurrence during lightning storms and can cause significant damage to electronic devices and appliances in your home. When lightning strikes, it can cause a sudden spike in electricity, leading to a power surge that can affect your electrical systems and devices. This is known as a "ground surge" and is one of the most common lightning-related insurance claims.

During a power surge, the voltage exceeds the standard peak voltage of 169 volts in the US. This spike in voltage can overload and short-circuit electronic devices, causing immediate damage or gradual degradation over time. Appliances and electronics that are plugged in during a power surge may stop working, exhibit signs of burning, or short out.

To protect your electronics and appliances from power surges caused by lightning, you can take several precautions. Firstly, unplug any devices that are not in use. This simple step can help prevent internal power surges caused by the startup or shutdown of devices with motors, such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Additionally, consider investing in point-of-use surge protection devices (SPDs) and combining them with a good grounding system. SPDs divert the excess voltage from a power surge into the ground, protecting your electronics. Make sure to choose SPDs that have an indicator to alert you if they are no longer functioning properly.

While power surges can be concerning, taking proactive measures can help safeguard your electronics and give you peace of mind during lightning storms.

Lightning safety tips

Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year, and while most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year. Lightning kills about 20 people in the US each year and injures hundreds more. Therefore, it is important to know how to keep yourself and your home safe during a lightning storm.

Outdoor Safety

• If there is a chance of thunderstorms, postpone your trip or outdoor activity.
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Move to a safe shelter immediately. Safe shelters include substantial buildings with electricity or plumbing, or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with the windows rolled up.
• Stay in safe shelter for at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.
• If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby, get off elevated areas and crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and your hands over your ears.
• Do not shelter under a tree, a cliff, or rocky overhang, and stay away from bodies of water.
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity, such as barbed wire fences, power lines, and windmills.
• If you are in a group, separate from each other to reduce the number of injuries if lightning strikes the ground.
• Stay away from open vehicles, structures, and spaces.
• Stay away from tall structures—lightning tends to strike the tallest object around.

Indoor Safety

• Stay away from windows, doors, and porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
• Do not use corded phones, computers, or other electrical equipment.
• Do not use plumbing, including sinks, baths, and faucets. Lightning can travel through plumbing.

Home Protection

• Install a complete lightning protection system, including strike termination devices, ground terminals or rods, and surge suppression devices.
• Have working smoke detectors, flashlights, and fire extinguishers on each floor of your home.
• Plug your appliances and electronics into compatible surge protectors, or unplug them.

Frequently asked questions