Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - New to Florida
Thread: New to Florida
View Single Post
 
Old 06-04-2015, 06:14 PM
Lightning Lightning is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 219
Thanks: 0
Thanked 33 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by billybye View Post
Better yet - have your neighbor install a lightning rod - I would chip in if I could
There are many myths about lightning that cannot be supported by science or 200+ years of lightning experience. Lightning is random and highly UNPREDICTABLE.

A home was destroyed last year in Mira Mesa that was adjacent to a live oak that towered over the house. The tree lives but the homeowners were out of their home for six months during reconstruction.

Another myth is that if your next door neighbor has lightning rods they will be struck but your home will be spared. A few years ago a Sunset Ridge home was destroyed that had no lightning protection. The home next door and across the street were both protected by lightning rods but it afforded no protection for the home that was struck. And it did not have the highest profile roof on the street.

To learn more about lightning see University of Florida's Dr. Martin Uman's book, The Art and Science of Lightning Protection that can be found in The Villages Library on Belvedere Drive.