Lightning
 

Welcome to the Lightning Capital of the US! Our area experiences over 100 days a year with lightning. In 2020 we had 117 days with lightning. The term “whole house surge protection” is misleading. There is no single product on the market to protect all appliances and sensitive electronic equipment from an INDIRECT lightning strike. As others have mentioned on this thread each year a few homeowners experience damage in the thousands of dollars to their electronics. Therefore, it is worth considering Primary Surge Protection on your meter by your electric utility or on your electric panel by a licensed electrical AND you need Secondary Surge Protection (point-of-use) for electronics like computers, TVs, garage door openers, etc. If your concern is a DIRECT lightning strike that can cause significant damage to the structure then consider installing a lightning protection system, commonly called lightning rods, by a firm listed by UL and a Master Installer as designated by the Lightning Protection Institute. For more information on lightning safety, you may to wish to attend The Weather Club in The Villages March 18, 2021, meeting,1:30 PM, at the Bridgeport Recreation Center to learn more. You can sign up at info@theweatherclubvillages.com.
In reponse to a post on February 12, 2021, seeking help on SECO surge protection

Our prized Palm Tree got blasted by Lightning about 6 months ago. I had just gotten out of the shower when it happened. It sounded like it hit something in the back of the house but alas it got our Palm. The Shrapnel and Collateral Damage was significant and I'll never forget the smell of a burning Palm Tree and the noise. It also wiped out the stove.

Thankfully no one was injured but I have an entirely new respect for living in the Lightning Capital Of Da World. I'm a pretty big target. :1rotfl::1rotfl:

Twice I have been outside and within 100 to 500 feet of a lightning strike. The first time in a wooded area, lightning struck a pine tree about 100 feet away. There were about 2 or 3 dozen of us (teenagers) in the group. We saw it, heard it, felt it at the same instant. The bolt went through the center of the tree, all that was left was a stump (I think it was 75 feet or more) the trunk exploded and there was not a piece of wood longer than 6 or 7 feet. Very impressive, fortunately no one was hurt from the strike or the flying debris.
The second time I was a work (a power plant), standing in about 8 inches of rain water walking from the 230,000 volt switchyard back to the plant when lighting struck the building and I saw the bolt go down the side of the building into the ground (remember I am standing is 8 inches of water....) I ran for cover....
Lightning is very impressive.

WHOA!!! :popcorn:

At least you still have 7 lives left!

The tree story is impressive. . .

Lightning is without a doubt my least favorite thing about living in the Villages. Totally conflicts with my two favorite activities. I love to swim laps, and water is an excellent conductor of electricity. I also love to golf, and being outside in an open area carrying around a golf club (lightning rod) is not a particularly good idea. Oh well, if I get killed doing one of my favorite activities then at least I will go quickly doing something I love : )

LIghtning
 

The family and I were swimming in Weeki Wacchi Springs many years ago when we were told to get out of the water because lightning was seen. It started raining and I ran for cover under an awning. Lightning must have struck the sidewalks someplace and the rebar conducted the strike to where I was standing on the wet concrete. I felt the jolt go through my body from my feet up through my head. It scared the be-jesus out of me!

And what I can’t understand is the people that continue to play golf or hit balls at Sarasota when lightning is dancing all around 🙄🙄.

Some people just think they are above everything! My husband is one of them because his ‘friends’ tell him that lightning is not a concern!! He says the same thing about ‘if I die, at least I’m doing something I love. To me that means he’s miserable with the rest of his life!

Lightening
 

I definitely have a new respect for lightening. I use to love sitting on my porch in NY watching it light up the sky. Not here. This past August I took my 2 dogs out to my backyard. Storms were predicted and my one pup has developed a fear of thunder since moving here almost 4yrs ago. So before the storm got close I took them out to do their business. All of a sudden he started pulling myself and my other pup toward the lanai door. He was adamant about going inside. Mind you the area was not in an active storm. We all got into the house and not 60 seconds later there was an extremely loud crack of thunder, one like I never heard before; and it was right outside my house. What was so frightening, it was where we had just been not a minute before. I realized my house had been struck by lightening. I started investigating and found lots of damage. 2 TVs with their cable boxes, all electric in garage, the AC was not working along with the sprinkler system. I could go on and on.listing the damage. This was with a surge protector on my circuit breaker box and one on a TV, which obviously didn't work. Everything was eventually repaired or replaced. I had a protector put on the meter box. Things can be fixed or replaced, lives can't. Thanks to my wonderful pup pulling us in, the 3 of us were alive. Now we don't go outside, even if the storm seems to be in the distance. It can change its proximity to anyone in an instant. As I said a new respect maybe even a little fear.

What village are you located

Many years ago, a sportscaster asked Lee Trevino why he carried a 1 Iron in his bag. His response?: Because not even God can hit a 1 Iron!

....and yet the other morning around 8AM during a thunderstorm, I watch several groups of golfers continue to play on Yankee Clipper while it was pouring rain with thunder and lightning. One was actually walking with an umbrella over his head and another over his pull cart. Seriously! How do these people tie their shoes? They wear slip-ons.

Lightning & Golf
 

Lee Trevino was struck while playing in the Western Open in Oak Brook, IL. injuring his spine. He had corrective surgery but back pain hindered his golf game.

New to TV this month. Does homeowner insurance typically cover damage to the house or appliances from lightening strikes?

Caution: Never take a shower when lightning is in the area. We had one person here in The Villages injured while taking a shower and the house was struck. We had a second case when the home was struck and the homeowner was lucky to have escaped injury.

Lightening hit the side of our aluminum fence in Massachusetts..into our house and blew electric plugs off wall— ran the entire length of house and destroyed bed room fan— stove fridge All plugs in kitchen -tv- into mother in law suite and killed stove and fridge - then out side fence and jumped to neighbors house destroying items there. I have picture of burn Mark into side of house near fence and out the opposite side!! And LOUD!!!

Keep in mind a surge protector will NOT protect your home from a lightning strike. That is not what they are designed to do. Also keep in mind that lightning can enter your home through electrical system wiring. TV cable from a strike in the pedestal in the back yard or the cable in the ground. Through the sprinkler system wiring or piping. Through your water pipes, Or it can (and does) blow a hole in the roof and create all sorts of mayhem.

Our neighbors palm was struck last April and debris was scattered over both lawns. We each lost one TV, even with surge protection.
We had sold our home, the closing was in 3 days and we were moving the last few items to our new home. We took separate vehicles to make the few remaining trips. My husband went back to our original home first and was there for about an hour before me. Upon entering the garage, there was a strong gas smell. We immediately called the gas company. A line in the attic had a hole in it due to an arch from the lightening.
We were not aware that the gas lines are located in the attic (never really thought about it) and constructed of plastic hosing.
Fortunately, everything was fine and repaired prior to the home inspection but it’s scary to think this could have ended very differently. The gas company and repair technician told us this is not uncommon .

Lightning
 

I had Lightning Rods installed mainly because of gas lines in the attic. The only thing still using gas in my home is my heat, so maybe I will convert to electric when the time comes to upgrade. I have read that no homes in The Villages have been seriously damaged w. Lightning Rods installed

I agree with you on that one. We've lived here 11 yrs and you can drive past any golf course when the skies are black, it's thundering/ lightening and people will still be playing golf. It's said if you can hear thunder get to cover as lightening can strike. Crazy people just don't understand that here in FL it's a bit different than where they came from. Though even "up north" one can get hit by lightening. BUT here they count (in the thousands) of lightening strikes any storm may have.

My dog hates thunder and lightning storms ever since we moved here. She never reacted to them before and we've been exposed to horrendous thunder, lightning, tropical storm and hurricanes but she will now react before I'm aware of the change in weather or receive a weather alert.
She somehow senses them from miles away and is my early warning system.
Luckily, she doesn't turn into a hyperventilating, quivering, drooling, 65 lb. mass of dogflesh but she will attach herself to whatever portion of my body that's closest.

Glad you and your pups were safe.
Good pup!
Very scary situation.

What you have as home qwners have experienced at the villiages with lighting stricks has me thinking twice if I really what to relocate to florida. Please let me know what you think. Sound like a dangerious and costly location.

So does anyone get both the SECO installed Primary Surge Protection on the exterior electric meter and also the surge protector usually installed on your electric panel by a licensed electrical or would that just be redundant? I realize that either way I would also need high quality surge protectors for all secondary electronics in the home.
Thanks

Have all this problem with lighting strucks would you buy a house knowing this now
 

What you have as home owners have experienced at the villiages with lighting strucks has me thinking twice if I really what to relocate to florida. Please let me know what you think. Sound like a dangerious and costly location to live there at villiages

Want to see lighting strike live on you’re computer

Go here

Real Time Lightning Map :: LightningMaps.org

Our policy for lightning strikes covered any appliance with a motor. Since then I upgraded our coverage to cover all the appliances and the A/C unit. We have the coverage thru Duke Energy. Thought I bought the best they had the first time around. Live & Learn.

The new stove was purchased on my dime. We are lucky it wasn't worse. I'm grateful.

It is belts and suspenders

It is amazing to me to see so many people using umbrellas during a storm with thunder and lightning! It is like carrying a “hit me” sign on your head. Invest in a hooded, lightweight rain jacket or get wet. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning...even if it isn’t raining where you are. Take this seriously.

To respond to this situation about lightning. Almost every year we have had a major lightning strike to a home in The Villages and some have burnt down. Not so much since homes are now being built with no gas installations. North central Florida is considered The Lightning Capital of the U.S.

That said, on another thread you are asking about transportation in The Villages, so I am guessing you are considering moving here. If you have not been here to The Villages, it is wise to come and see how amazing this place is. I have lived here for over a dozen years now and I STILL cannot believe how wonderful it is and how wonderfully run it is, so clean, the flowers at all of the intersections have just been changed out again and this batch is fuchsia, pink, purple and white and it is stunning. They are changed out four or five times a year and each time I drive along, I cannot believe how the roads are litter free and the grass and bushes neatly trimmed. It is so nice here. I am so lucky we live here.

Can anyone provide names of companies who install the whole house lightning rods?

Lightning Protection Services
 

After hearing a couple of presentations about lightning rods and quaking through two years of thunderstorms here, we had a pine tree hit right in front of our lanai next to the Havana #4 fairway. Bark and needles flew off the tree, and I vowed we were going to get lightning rods! That was in July 2017. A-1 Lightning Protection Services, Inc,
352-465-0620.

If you figure there are 70,000+ homes in TV, and one gets hit a year, I'll take those odds any day to not really worry about lightening too much.

I've asked before - has anyone with lightning rods on their home been hit by lightning - not that I am aware of.

Lightning rods are a one shot deal because they fry the grounding wires if they get hit. Not sure if liquid copper being sprayed around is healthy either... That will cause a major fire as well.

Larger buildings usually have them, especially if very tall, or covering a lot of land.