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During the recent storm we had Friday night into Saturday morning three homes in the Villages were struck by lightning. One serious with a fire and the other two no fire.

Too see and read the article on the terrible strike in Charlotte Google "lightning-strike-punches-hole-in-roof-of-home-in-the-villages" and click on the first article by the Villages News too see all the pictures.

Lightning is unpredictable and it looks like these people are not going to be living in their home for a while since there are probably not a lot of contractors waiting around to rush and repair this home and it takes a while for the Insurance to assess and pay for the damages. I'm also assuming with a strike this large that several neighbors around this home had major power surge damage to their electronic devices and appliances.

The reason why I'm posting this is because we live in one of the lightning capitals of the world due to our proximity to the east and west coast weather here in Florida. Random lightning strikes is something we need to live with, especially with all the new homes. Last year a lightning strike in one of the new areas would have occured in a field. Today, there is a home there.

The Villages Lightning Study Group has been giving free community service non-commercial educational presentations in The Villages on lightning since 2009. They address personnel lightning safety indoors and out, surge protection, lightning protection systems (LPS), and dispel many of the myths and misunderstandings about lightning.

One of the misconceptions they dispel is that lightning protection systems do not work. Lightning protection systems have been proven effective for over 200 years and they do work if they are designed, installed, and maintained according to the National Fire Protection Association-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2023 Edition. The Principles of Lightning Protection are discussed in Annex B. They also suggest that only firms listed by UL with craftsmen who have met the Master Installer criteria of the Lighting Protection Institute be considered when selecting a contractor.

Another reference used in their presentations is The Art & Science of Lightning Protection Systems, by Dr. Martin Uman, from the University of Florida who has been studying lightning for over four decades.

Over the years there have been may studies that have proven the advocacy of LPS. One such study was conducted at the University of Florida's International Center for Lightning Research & Testing at Camp Blanding.

Lightning Protection Systems are used world-wide and locally have been installed on all water & sewage stations, every building in Sumter Landing including your former retail store, all the sales centers, the Sharon, Savannah Center, most churches, the new schools, the hospitals, the developer's own homes, and many Villagers have chosen to protect their own residence.

I mention this NOT to sell Lightning Protection and power surge systems but to make everyone aware that there are free presentations being given in the Villages giving the facts so homeowners can make a more informed decision based on their tolerance for risk and their specific situation. Nothing man made is 100% effective but there is a good chance if these homeowners had a Lightning Protection System installed by a certified UL listed company that they may have been spared this unfortunate event.