Don’t underestimate destructive force of lightning strikes

Several isolated but severe thunderstorms caused widespread damage in South Carolina over the past week. Portions of Lee and Sumter counties were among those areas that felt the impact during storms the first part of the week.  The Sumter Fire Department responded to five homes reportedly struck by lighting on Monday.  Captain Brian Horton with the Sumter County Fire Department said they were able to save the houses, but that they did experience a large amount of damage.  

The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) reports that property losses related to lightning strikes exceed $1 billion annually, according to insurance industry data.  Losses can range from damage to expensive electronic equipment, to  fires that destroy entire house or business.

For lightning protection, a whole-house or building surge protector is the best starting point for reducing the risk of damage. Horton agrees with the importance of being prepared for lightning strikes.

The only thing they can do is try to have their TV’s and equipment on surge protectors, and their cable lines, feed and computers and other stuff on line. That’s the best thing you can do is to make sure they’re on surge protectors and try to protect it.

According to the National Weather Service, every thunderstorm produces lightning. On average, 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year in the U.S. by lightning.

We’ve had the hottest June on record.  July’s not much better.  So we’re getting a lot of heating and humidity and so when the storms do come up they’re pretty severe.

THE IBHS recommends that for best results, the protection should extend beyond the surge protection used for the entire building or house. IBHS strongly recommends the following:

• Install additional protection for important or expensive electronic equipment. This should include localized surge protection for power cords to the equipment and any telephone and cable/satellite TV lines connecting to the equipment. These devices are available at most home improvement and electronics stores.

• Have a licensed electrician or competent home/building inspector review the power, telephone, electrical and cable/satellite TV connections to your building. Have them check to make sure that you have adequate grounding of the power line connection and your power distribution panel. All of the utilities should enter the structure within 10 feet of the electrical service entrance ground wire and be bonded to that grounding point.

Many power companies have programs to provide and install the whole-building surge protection. If this is not available in your area, consult a licensed electrician.