How to protect your home from lightning strikes

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According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) there were more than 70,000 lightning-related claims that totaled more than $1.2 billion in 2023. Most of the claims were connected to electricity surges caused by nearby lightning strikes.

You can protect your home from lightning in multiple ways. Start by installing a lightning protection system and using stabilizers for electronic equipment. While these steps will help prevent damage, some damage is beyond your control.

If lightning causes major damage to your home, like starting a fire or causing a tree to fall on your roof, homeowners insurance will cover the damage. Read on to learn more about home insurance for lightning and how to protect your home.

Key Takeaways

Lightning causes billions of dollars in home insurance claims each year.
Home insurance covers damage caused by lightning.
There are things you can do to protect your home and personal property from lightning strikes.

Does homeowners insurance cover lightning strikes?

Standard homeowners insurance covers homeowners for lightning-related losses. Lightning can cause a wide variety of damage, from starting fires to knocking down trees. It can also cause power surges that damage expensive electronic equipment.

Home insurance covers you for damage from lightning in a few ways:

Dwelling coverage will cover any damage to the structure itself, or attached structures like a deck.
Other structures coverage will pay for damage to any structures not attached to your home, like a shed.
Personal property coverage will cover damage to your personal property.
Additional living expenses coverage will help with the cost of living elsewhere if the lightning damage forces you from your home.

After a lightning strike, you can file a claim with your insurance company for the damage. You will have to pay your deductible before your insurance company pays the rest of your claim.

How to protect your home from lightning

You can protect your home from lightning by buying a lightning protection system. Lightning protection systems cost anywhere from $2,000 to $4,500 to protect a private home and up to $70,000 to protect a high-rise building. They need to be installed by specially trained professionals. Lightning protection systems provide a designated path for the lightning current to travel. It neither attracts nor repels a lightning strike, but simply intercepts it and guides it harmlessly to the ground.

Of course, that’s expensive and not an option for everyone. There are also things you can do on a budget, such as:

Install surge protectors, either whole-house or at the point of use.
Unplug electronics when a storm is approaching or if you’ll be away for a long period during storm season.
Make sure you have a grounding system for lightning outside your house.

Sources:

Insurance Information Institute. “Facts and Statistics: Lightning.” Accessed June 2024

National Weather Service. “Lightning rods.” Accessed June 2024

Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is an insurance expert and managing editor of Insure.com. She specializes in life and health insurance content, and has experience as a marketing consultant.