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When Lightning Strikes

Jul 30, 2014 3:27:50 PM

lightning-1427861-mWe all know that getting struck by lightning is rare. In Canada, 150 people are injured by the over 2 million lightning strikes per year, but what you may not know is that it is far less rare to have your home struck by lightning. Often, there isn't much damage to the home, but if there is a considerable amount of damage... is a lightning strike covered by your home insurance?

This past July an Edmonton couple found out just what it was like to have their home struck by lightning.

"The house shook and the power went out," but they didn't think their house was struck until a neighbour mentioned it to them. On closer inspection they had some damage to the walls, drain spout and possibly more. Houses today are grounded in such a way that lightning can travel through them with relative safety and leave little damage. 

So, Is Damage Caused by Lightning Covered By Insurance

The short answer is yes, your home insurance likely covers damage caused by lightning strikes. In most cases, the cost of the damage may not exceed your deductable, so it may be in your best interest to not make a claim on this, but in worse cases your insurance should have you covered. 

Tips on Staying Safe In a Thunderstorm

Where Should I Go - The safest place to be during a thunderstorm is in your house. You want to be in a building with proper plumbing and electrical to help lead the lightning to the ground. A covered deck or inside an open garage is not safe. 

Can I use Electronics? - If your electronics are connected to your home's electrical outlets or internet connection then you should stay away from them during the storm. Cordless devices should be safe.

Is My Car a Safe Place to Be During a Storm? - A lot of people think that the rubber tires will prevent lightning from striking their car. This is not true, lightning still does strike cars, but it travels through the frame of the vehicle usually leaving the people inside safe. 

How Do I Tell How Far Away a Storm Is? - Most people know this trick already, but as soon as you see lighning flash count until you hear the thunder. Divide the number of seconds between lightning and thunder by 3 and that will tell you how far away that last lighting flash was in km. Keep in mind though that lightning has been known to strike 5 or more km away from a storm.

What Should I do If My House Has Been Hit By Lightning

If you think you've been hit by lightning the very first thing to do is gather up everyone in the house and make sure they're alright. Then check the house for fire. Lightning strikes at over 30,000 degrees Celsius so the chance for a fire is very real. Once you're sure that everyone is safe and in a safe spot you can call your insurance company to let them know you've been hit and that you may need to make a claim.

Rob Stevenson

Written by Rob Stevenson

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