Lightning Strikes in The Villages
 

I got a breaking news email from that “alternative” Villages new source, that said a home in the Village of Linden was struck by lightning and burned down in last night’s thunder/lightning activity. Since this my first summer living here, was curious how often this happens - Common, Not-So-Common, One-Off?

I feel so bad for the homeowners, luckily no one was home at the time of fire, as they were up North.

How many people have lightning rods on their houses? Ballpark, what did it cost? Do you think it was worth it? Do they work?

I would think you would get a discount on your insurance if you had them.

My impression is strikes are rare, maybe once per year.

I haven't heard of a house with lightning rods being damaged. On the other hand, there are tens of thousands of houses without lightning rods that also have not been damaged. Probably an inexpensive way to hedge your bet.

To be effective a lightning rod system needs to be installed correctly. Make sure to vet the company you buy from.

If your next door neighbor has lightning rods, you're in luck....

If the Sun had a living, breathing editor interested in reporting the news info on it will be in tomorrows paper

Here's a previous thread:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ight=Lightning

There is a reason the Tampa Bay professional hockey team is called the Lightning. The imaginary line between Tampa and Daytona Beach is the lightning belt capital of the country, and the line goes through the Villages. Being on a peninsula, sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, makes for frequent and unpredictable pop up lightning storms during the warm tropical summer months. It’s my least favorite thing about the Village’s given that my favorite two activities are lap swimming and golfing. Being submerged in an excellent conductor of electricity like water, or in an open area swinging a lightning rod, are both very dangerous activities. Oh well, I can think of worse ways to have my number called.

I was watching the Women's Amateur golf event that they play at Augusta, the week before the Masters, last year, during a storm when KABOOM!!, that simultaneous noise and flash that tells you you've been hit knocks me just about out of my chair, and the TV goes "pphhhffftttt....".

My next door neighbors were away, but when they returned my neighbor says to me "hey, look at this.." and on the other side of his house there was a nice chunk of stucco missing.
Neither of us have lightning rods.
He had no issues with his electronics.

Bird cages = a major attraction for lightning strikes.

info on lightning: Lightning is not attracted to metal: Top 5 myths of lightning...

I know of one home that was struck by lightning, on their moving day. All classic cars in the 4 car garage, furniture in place, boxes not yet unpacked. Tired, they went to grab something to eat, storm came in while they were out. Lighting struck, home, classic cars, total loss, along with losing their pet. Since 07 it is the only home I knew of personally, that lightning destroyed a home. I am sure there have been others, but this home in our circle of people.

So yes it does happen, but with the thousands of home in such a large area, it’s just bad luck. Nope we don’t have lighting rods

now that is some sort of bad luck!

Have been in a top floor of a business building in Boca when lightening hit the rods above us. . . Big loud snap!

There is a house on the left side of #5 on the Amelia 9 at Mallory that had severe damage from lightning maybe 6-9 months ago---it is still under reconstruction, but getting there.

That’s soon enough for me……..::

In Deltona: Roofer killed by lightning strike in Florida | wtsp.com