[mac9]

I noticed that the last 3 houses struck by lightning were stucco. Could there be a reason that for that? Our house was hit by the tornado in '07 and sustained some damage (we have a frame house). The only house in our neighborhood that had to be razed was stucco. Coincidence?

[swrinfla]

It was definitely scary turning into Pelican Path and seeing all sorts of fire trucks, rescue vehicles, Community Watch vehicles, even a Sumter County Sheriff's car. I was allowed to pass the road block since my street was the next one.

But, the proximity of this strike is unnerving! So much closer than the one from last week!

And, today's mid-day storm was nearly as fierce as yesterday's. There were all sorts of siren noises, but I never saw smoke, so maybe we lucked out, today?

l2ridehd: you must be practically next door to me if you're that close to yesterday's hit. I'm on Fenimore Lane.

SWR

[Peggy D]

Did this house also have gas lines in the attic?

[JeanneBeannie]

Originally Posted by mac9

I noticed that the last 3 houses struck by lightning were stucco. Could there be a reason that for that? Our house was hit by the tornado in '07 and sustained some damage (we have a frame house). The only house in our neighborhood that had to be razed was stucco. Coincidence?

That's very interesting, I wonder why? I have found myself mainly looking at the stucco homes because I read they were safer in a hurricane and plus I love the look too, they are all beautiful homes in TV.
However....if this is true I sure would like to know if anyone knows before buy a home. I can easily give up the look of stucco for safety.
I am not a big fan of lightening , I am sure no one really is but I will take the lightening if I have to rather than freeze all winter .

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Peggy D

Did this house also have gas lines in the attic?

I can't imagine for a minute how stucco, which is a concrete base, would attract lightening. I'm guessing that since the majority of homes in TV are stucco, they were hit because of sheer volume.

[JeanneBeannie]

Thank you Host, I couldnt imagine it either, since it is concrete I thought it would be the safest . Either way I wont let that deter me from buying stucco....I will use the site you posted yesterday when I get down there and buy a home. Thanks again.

[paulandjean]

the last three homes also back up to golf course

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

the last three homes also back up to golf course

This is not completely true. The house last week backs up to Canal.

[graciegirl]

Now why would the "empty space" behind the house have some bearing on a lightning strike??. I remember vaguely from high school about positive and negative charges. And it appears trees are struck more than homes and we really don't have that many taller than houses trees in The Villages. Were the last three homes in TV struck by lightning on "higher ground"???

The lightning which is positive is drawn to the negative which is earth and should strike the tallest object. So being on the hill in Hadley isn't so good, right? Does it help us that the Odell rec center behind us is taller??

I want to hear how this all works. I wish I hadn't talked so much in science class, but Martha Washington sat next to me and it was mostly her fault.

[graciegirl]

And it has already been stated that we live in the lightning capital of the U.S. Below quoted from Wikipedia on lightning strikes.


"Approximately 70% of lightning occurs in the tropics where the majority of thunderstorms occur. The place where lightning occurs most often is near the small village of Kifuka in the mountains of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the elevation is around 975 metres (3,200 ft). On average this region receives 158 lightning strikes per square kilometre (approx. 0.4 square mile) a year.[91] Singapore has one of the highest rates of lightning activity in the world.[92] The city of Teresina in northern Brazil has the third-highest rate of occurrences of lightning strikes in the world. The surrounding region is referred to as the Chapada do Corisco ("Flash Lightning Flatlands").[93] In the US, Central Florida sees more lightning than any other area. For example, in what is called "Lightning Alley", an area from Tampa, to Orlando, there are as many as 50 strikes per square mile (about 20 per km²) per year.[94][95] The Empire State Building is struck by lightning on average 23 times each year, and was once struck 8 times in 24 minutes.[96]"

[chelsea24]

Originally Posted by Peggy D

Did this house also have gas lines in the attic?

I believe that all three homes have the gas lines in the attic. I can't see how stucco or frame would be the problem. I've seen two of the homes right after it happened and have heard they get so out of hand because the gas lines in the attics explode.

IMHO this is a real construction flaw. I've never heard of gas lines being in an attic. I was sorry when we first moved here that only electric was being offered, but now I guess I'm glad.

My greater fear now is that right behind us is an huge open field. We've seen a couple of strikes there and that's right across the street. Also, what about the strike that someone wrote about on 466A? That left just a hole in the ground with landscaping strewn everywhere. I don't know if a tree was part of the equation, they didn't mention that.

[duffysmom]

The house on Pelican Path that was hit has very large oak tree right behind it. Actually towers over the roof.

[Peggy D]

Gas or electric was not an issue when moving here. I could have cared less. But now knowing that gas lines are in the attic, I'm sure glad our house is all electric.

The thought of putting them up there, with lightening strikes being a common problem--who would ever allow that?

[swrinfla]

Without really knowing much of anything about this whole subject, please bear in mind that our houses are all built on a concrete slab. A few, or maybe some, but not all, of our utilities are provided through that slab. If you've got gas, chances are the lines are in the ceiling. If you've got electric, chances are the lines are in the ceiling!

I'm still more worried about the fact that our roof structures are wood, and inevitably very, very dry wood!

I am personally going to try to discuss the situation with Mike Tucker. If there's anyone in TV who'll have a straight answer, it is Mike.

SWR

[F16 1UB]

A house in Hadley on Bostic was struck in May. Blew a 2 ft hole in the roof. Fried the cable, some appliances, and oh yeah, HE was in the shower holding on to the bar. Took him to the hospital. His defibrillator was going nuts. He's OK as far as the strike went but when he fell it aggravated his new hip. Still walks with a walker. Right after that the lightning rod sales went ballistic in around him. Total electric sided home.