Pleasantville firefighters battled a blaze which damaged a Fairview Avenue house on July 8, 1994. It was determined the fire was caused by lightning. Considerable damage was done.
Lightning strikes and property damage: What to know
According to the Insurance Information Institute, “U.S. insurers paid $1.04 billion in lightning-related homeowners insurance claims in 2024, a 16.5% decrease from the $1.24 billion paid out in 2023.”
As well, “The total number of lightning-caused claims also fell significantly, down 21.5% to 55,537 in 2024, the lowest number of claims since before 2017,” the institute notes.
Florida, Texas, and California led the nation in lightning-caused insurance claims in 2024. New York ranked 8th of the Top 10 states for homeowner insurance lightning losses by number of claims (1,937) during that year.
“Lightning remains a costly and unpredictable threat, with ground surges causing nearly half of all claims,” said Michal Brower of State Farm. “These events can cause extensive damage to electrical systems, appliances and even structural issues. The damage underscores the critical need for homeowners to be aware of the risks, invest in protective measures, and stay prepared, especially in high-risk regions where lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging.”
The Insurance Information Institute has a webpage which provides tips on how to keep one’s home safe from lightning strikes. The institute also states, “While a house is the safest place you can be during a storm, just going inside isn’t enough. You must avoid any conducting path leading outside, such as electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, plumbing, metal doors or metal window frames. Don’t stand near a window to watch the lightning. An inside room is generally safe, but a home equipped with a professionally installed lightning protection system is the safest shelter available.”
Furthermore, “Surge arresters and suppressors are important components of a complete lightning protection system, but can do nothing to protect a structure against a direct lightning strike. These items must be installed in conjunction with a lightning protection system to provide whole house protection.”
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Remember When: Pleasantville house was damaged by lightning in 1994
Reporting by Staff Reports / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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