It can be a jaw-dropping sight when the stormy Florida sky is filled with zig-zagging bolts of electricity. This view takes the night by force more often than not during the state’s storm-prone months of May through October. It is, all at once, beautiful, amazing, and terrifying. Mother Nature’s high voltage light show can cause serious injuries – lightning, in fact, is the No. 1 cause of weather-related deaths in Florida – so it’s important to take precautions and know what to do when lightning strikes.

Thanks to our tropical climate and topography, Central Florida has earned the dubious distinction of being the Lightning Capital of the United States. Florida experiences approximately 80-105  thunderstorm days a year. There have been 2,144 people injured and over 400 deaths as a result of lightning between 1959 – 2023. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to stay indoors during a storm.

Did you know? Your chance of being struck by lightning in your lifetime is 1 in 15,300, according to the National Weather Service. Compare that with your odds of winning the Florida lottery – 1 in 292,201,338. 

Lightning travels from the sky to the ground and back up again. It can strike any object in the process of trying to reach the ground. Lightning is estimated to be heated to 54,000°F, which is about six times hotter than the sun, and has an average of 30,000 amps (amps measure the strength of an electric current). It’s no wonder that anything lightning touches runs the risk of catching on fire. That includes your home. In fact, Florida home insurance company Security First Insurance listed lightning as its second-highest claim loss type for the month of June 2014. The chart below shows the company’s lightning claim experience over the past seven years:

If thunder roars, stay indoors!

Thunderstorm Safety Tips

• If you can hear thunder, you have the potential of being struck by lightning. Lightning can strike from as far away as 10 miles. As soon as you see lightning, count in seconds until you hear thunder. If the thunder is heard more than 30 seconds later -- that means it is more than 10 miles away -- you are safe. If you hear thunder less than 30 seconds later, seek shelter and remain there for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder roll is heard.
• Don't use any wired appliance or device during a severe storm – these conduct electricity, which can electrocute you
• Don't stand on a patio slab or anywhere standing water might gather
• Stay away from water pipes and faucets – these are sometimes made of metal and have water in them that conducts electricity
• Stay away from walls where electrical wiring is present. Lightning will occasionally jump through the air inside a house or building to reach a better grounding path, such as from electrical wires to a water pipe
• Do not hesitate to exit your home if you believe it was struck by lightning – if it is still storming, wait for the fire department in your car, making sure not to lean on metal frame or windows

If you think lightning has struck your home, follow these safety tips:

• Listen for buzzing or static – this can be a sign of an electrical shortage
• If you smell or see smoke, or see sparking, exit your home immediately

Make sure to call 911 / the fire department if you notice any of the indicators listed above or believe the wiring of your home has been impacted by a storm.

If your home has been damaged, report the loss to your home insurance carrier as quickly as possible. One way to prepare for the unexpected now is to create a portable inventory list of your home’s contents. Having a prepared list helps expedite the recovery process. It’s also a good idea to review your homeowner’s policy and discuss any questions you may have with your agent. Take steps in advance to make sure you have the coverage you need so that you don’t strike out after a lightning storm.