Lightning Strikes Damage VA Homes: Here's How To Stay Safe

Lightning strikes have damaged multiple homes in Virginia this year, and the number of deaths caused by this weather phenomenon continues to climb across the country.

Most recently, a home in Lynchburg was struck by lightning on July 9, causing the chimney to catch fire. Damage was minimal, and no one was displaced.

On July 1, a row of four townhouses in Vienna caught fire after they were struck by lightning twice.

"It's incredibly rare to have lightning strikes, especially that close together," Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief David Bentley told WUSA9. "Residents in the area reported hearing five large, loud thunder booms, and that's what led us to believe that this building was actually struck twice by separate lightning strikes."

That same day, lightning struck a Chesterfield County home, sparking a fire in its attic. Four residents were displaced following the blaze.

No people have been fatally struck by lightning in Virginia this year, and the state has recorded only six lightning fatalities since 2006. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida has more lightning injuries than any other state, with more than 2,000 recorded over the last 50 years.

Last month, Florida saw four separate cases of strikes in just a few weeks that left at least eight people injured, including one 29-year-old man who died after being taken to the hospital. The Colorado man had been honeymooning on the beach when he was hit.

In New Jersey, two people were killed by lightning in the past two weeks.

Most recently, on Wednesday night, a 61-year-old New Jersey man died after he was hit by lightning as severe weather rolled through an archery range in Jackson. Fourteen other people were also struck and suffered injuries that ranged from burns to complaints of pain and not feeling well.

A 15-year-old boy was also struck last month in New York City's Central Park. According to WABC-TV, he was at a picnic in the park when a severe thunderstorm began. “I leaned up against a tree, and I told them, ‘Oh, guys, let’s ride out the storm,’ which in hindsight might not have been the best idea,” Khalifa told WABC-TV.

According to the National Weather Service, lightning causes an average of 27 deaths each year nationwide. Others who are injured commonly survive with long-term, debilitating symptoms including memory loss, sleep disorders and muscle spasms.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the chances of being hit are less than one in a million, there are things you can do to help mitigate the risk:

Lightning Safety

According to the National Weather Service, the best way to protect yourself from lightning is to avoid the threat. "You simply don’t want to be caught outside in a storm. Have a lightning safety plan, and cancel or postpone activities early if thunderstorms are expected. … Substantial buildings and hard-topped vehicles are safe options. Rain shelters, small sheds, and open vehicles are not safe," the NWS said.

Here are some other tips from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management:

• Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of thunderstorms. Be ready to change plans, if necessary, to be near shelter.
• When you receive a thunderstorm warning or hear thunder, go inside immediately.
• If indoors, avoid running water or using landline phones. Electricity can travel through plumbing and phone lines.
• Protect your property. Unplug appliances and other electric devices. Secure outside furniture.
• If boating or swimming, get to land and find a sturdy, grounded shelter or vehicle immediately.
• If necessary, take shelter in a car with a metal top and sides. Do not touch anything metal.
• Avoid flooded roadways. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

Activities That Increase The Risk Of Being Struck

According to the CDC, lightning strikes most often connect with those outside participating in recreational activities or working. Almost two-thirds of all lightning deaths from 2006 through 2021 involved someone who was fishing, boating, playing sports or relaxing at the beach. Farmers and ranchers have been identified as one of the highest-risk groups for being struck, with 18 percent of all deaths coming from work-related activities.

The National Weather Service offers more Lightning Safety Tips And Resources.

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