Storm Currents News-Blog

By Frank Ross

To understand how to protect your home and family from the dangers of lightning, you first need to understand a bit about how lightning forms, what creates this powerful display, and what causes it to “strike.” Just this week a friend asked, “Just how does lightning pick a target?”

Photo by Dr. Ray Franco, PhD., PE.

After a direct hit to a business or home, sometimes people feel that lightning singled them out as a target. While a guilty conscience may cause one to feel like they were perhaps deserving a lightning bolt, a bolt of lightning is an impersonal force. Although somewhat subject to the whims of chance, physical characteristics of your home and the terrain it is positioned on, as well as surrounding trees, the type of soil, power lines, etc. have more of an impact on the location of a strike. Another thing to keep in mind; the old adage which states “lightning never strikes in the same place twice” is a myth. Many towers and tall buildings are struck repeatedly by lightning, so don’t think that because you had a recent direct hit that you’ve experience a once in a lifetime shot. It could happen again tomorrow. In the long run, a proactive approach is the best insurance.

Lightning damage is visible on this AC compressor, photographed by Dr. Ray Franco, PhD., PE.

Lightning is a massive flow of electrical current that occurs between storm clouds and objects on the earth. This flow of current occurs when positive charges on the earth and negative forces in the clouds build up until the potential is great enough to jump between the distances which separate the various tall objects arrayed along the surface of these two opposing charges. When the buildup of the downward force in the clouds is sufficient and the two opposites come ever closer toward each other, the difference in both charges intensifies until a stepped leader thrusts downward toward an object on the ground with the highest potential force.

The path of the stepped leader is erratic, and very fast. Positive charges are attracted by this probing leader and reach up from roof tops, tall chimneys, antennas, electrical equipment on roofs or power poles. When the leader connects to the opposite charge, it creates a closed circuit and the massive build up of electricity is bled off in a blinding flash of white-hot light.

For a homeowner a direct hit can wipe out all types of electronic devices, not to mention the potential for a serious fire, roof and other structural damage. If a good insurance policy with a low deductible is in place, it’s only a minor inconvenience to make a few phone calls and schedule the repairs. Sometimes it may take a few days, but the worst thing you have to do is talk on your cell phone while the home phone is out, and watch the game next door while you raid their refrigerator at halftime. On the other side of the coin, if you have an expensive large-screen television, an expensive surround sound system, several home computers, a security system, electronic garage doors, an air conditioner and any of the many kitchen appliances damaged, you should take a serious look at protection that goes beyond running around jerking plugs out of outlets.

When a business takes a major hit, it can mean a serious loss of income from irate customers that can’t get a timely response while phones are knocked out and sales or customer records can’t be accessed on the company’s fried computers. Companies with production facilities can experience excessive down time in automated production lines, causing missed delivery and canceled contracts. Property damage can run into serious money, draining or diverting capital from other pressing projects, not to mention the jeopardy of repeated insurance claims can have on renewal.

Some people have to take a direct hit and feel the pain of a major financial loss before they invest in a lightning protection system, while others are more proactive and seldom flinch when a strike hits nearby.

Want to be proactive? Read on.