Georgia Top State for Lightning Claims 2nd Year in a Row
Monday, June 20th, 2016
Lightning may not seem as destructive as other natural disasters, yet a strike can cause serious damage to business equipment and electrical appliances, disrupt electrical service for long periods of time, and spark wildfires. In the past year Georgia has led the nation for the second year in a row with the most lightning claims paid.
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Georgia led the nation with State Farm paying out 2718 lightning claims.
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These payments totaled over $15.8 million dollars.
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This is the second year in a row where Georgians received the most lightning claims paid.
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State Farm paid nearly $155 million dollars for insurance claims as a result of damage from lightning strikes, giving Georgia 10% of all insurance payments from this peril.
June, July, and August are the times of year when lightning is most frequent. Even though lightning is weather-related and not a preventable event, there are ways to reduce your chance of damage from a power surge or fire.
National Lightning Safety Awareness Week takes place June 19- 25, 2016. If you would like to interview a Georgia agent in your market please let Justin Tomczak know (770) 418-5562.
“People often underestimate the harm that lightning can cause. It is a dangerous force to be reckoned with,” said State Farm spokesman Justin Tomczak. “We encourage home and business owners to take the necessary precautions to protect their property from the damaging effects of a lightning strike.”
Avoid Becoming a Victim of a Lightning Strike:
85% of lightning victims are children and young men ages 10-35 engaged in recreation or work. To prevent death or injury, the Lightning Protection Institute advises the following:
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Treat lightning with proper caution. If you are outside and a thunderstorm approaches, immediately seek shelter inside a fully enclosed building.
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If a building is not available, take shelter in a car with a metal top and keep doors and windows closed.
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Certain locations are extremely hazardous during thunderstorms. Avoid lakes, beaches or open water; fishing from a boat or dock; and riding on golf carts, farm equipment, motorcycles or bicycles. Never seek shelter under a tree!
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If caught outdoors, try to minimize your risk by going to a place of lower elevation.
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Stay off landline/wired telephones and utilize a cell phone if necessary. In your home, do not stand near open windows, doorways or metal piping. Stay away from the TV, plumbing, sinks, tubs, radiators and stoves. Avoid contact with small electric appliances such as radios, toasters and hairdryers
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For protection from lightning strikes in the general area of your home or an externally produced surge, a whole-house surge protector is the best starting point for reducing the risk of damage or a fire.
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Install additional protection for important or expensive electronic equipment. This should include localized surge protection for power cords to the electronic equipment and any telephone and cable/satellite TV lines connecting to the equipment.
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Make sure all equipment is UL-listed and properly labeled.
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Lightning protection systems are designed to protect a structure and provide a specified path to harness and safely ground the super-charged current of the lightning bolt. The system neither attracts nor repels a strike, but receives the strike and routes it harmlessly into the earth, thus discharging the dangerous electrical event. Be sure the lightning protection system is designed and installed in accordance with accepted industry standards.
