Lightning strikes Lily Pond

Recently, I showed you photos of a white pine that was struck by lightning at my farm in Bedford. Well, a couple of weeks ago, a very frightening thunder and lightning storm settled over the Hamptons, out on Long Island, New York, lasting nearly two hours. There was much flooding and widespread damage, and wouldn't you know it –- my home on Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton suffered a blow from a powerful bolt of lightning.

In addition to structural damage, the electronic driveway gate was burned out, the sprinkler system control panel was fried along with my stereo system, and the burglar/fire alarm and cable/internet were also struck. Thank goodness for a comprehensive home insurance policy. And I'm just so grateful that the house didn't catch on fire, which would have caused much more major damage and heartbreak.

The powerful lightning struck the peak of my house, causing considerable damage.

Another view showing the damage. The strike was so powerful it tore the shingles right down to the beams!

Pieces of the house were scattered about; this is a section of the fascia board.

More debris.

My rather costly stereo was destroyed!

Comments

[Linda]

Hi Martha:
I am glad no one got hurt. The dogs weren't there (I am guessing) so I am glad of that. It was a terrible event. Maybe there is something you can do to help prevent it from happening again. I am sorry that your beautiful home was so damaged and all your equipment. Maybe advice from an electrician on how to protect your electronic equipment can help you in the future.

Linda
Phila., PA

[Patricia Stout]

I am like a couple of your viewers, we had a whole house surge protection put on, because where we are at, we get a lot of electrical storms that can cause a lot of damage. House can be fixed and everyone is safe glad to hear that.
Loving Thoughts Patricia Stout

[Hardboiledegg]

Back in July a local radio show interviewed the author Martin Uman, a university of Florida electrical engineering Professor, the subject his book ---The Art and Science of Lightning Protection. perhaps this book and articles regarding this subject may be found on the internet but this man and his research may prove beneficial to all.

[Sherry]

What a scare! Good thing nobody was hurt. Thankfully, you can have the damage repaired, but still, what a shame. How strange that this is the second time so soon to have lightening damage. It's very frightening what damage a storm can do. Were your trees at the farm able to be saved, or did you have to have them taken down?

[Kelly]

Thank goodness no one was hurt and the house was spared serious damage!!

[Carla Martin]

I'm so sorry to read about this! YIKES! I have to admit my 1st thought was when "our lily pond" was hit last year! .it's a koi pond and we lost 6 very very loved -huge koi :O(
I'm just so glad after looking at your pic that you or your housekeeping staff, animals were not harmed! Remember everything else can be replaced :O)

[Paula M. :)]

Martha,
So sorry about the lightening damage to your beautiful home. I share my sentiments with the others that you and your pets weren't hurt.
Power strips do not protect computers, stereos, televisions unless you UNPLUG them! Lightening can still travel through plugged ones even if they are turned off.
Okay I am putting an acorn on my window sil....sounds like double insurance protection to me! ;-0 Things can be replaced...glad the house didn't have huge damage.
God Bless and looking forward to Sept. 15th!
Paula :)

[NORMA JEAN KIER]

MARTHA: IF YOU TIE A KNOT IN THE CORDS OF YOUR ELECTRONICS,WHEN HIT BY LIGHTING THE CORD WILLBURN NOT THE ELECTRONICES.
NORMA KIER

[Becky P.]

In Galveston Co. Texas, Aug.21, 2008, my home was struck by lightning. Slightly overcast skies, no rain or tell-tell thunder rumble, a true "bolt out of the blue" hit with a deafing boom and bright flash of light. Instinct made me grab my grandchildren and flee to the other end of the house. We had no idea what had happened. Common sense returned to my frightened, befuddled brain and I began an ivestigation. Odors of wood burning, electronic fire, rotten eggs, plus the room filled with whirls of smoke made the situation even more frightning. The rains began and I noticed the leak in the roof. The fire was put out by the rain. The lightning had punched a dinner plate sized hole in the roof, shattering a 2x4 which rained splinters with such force they embedded in my arm and legs. I had been sitting right under the blast area watching the PBS channel with my grandchildren. They were on the couch farther from the blast and unharmed; other than being totally terrified. Electronic devices throughout the house were damaged, but they can be replaced. It could have been so much worse, and I praise God everyday for sparing us the worst scenario an event like this could have caused. I will add a prayer of thanks that you were not harmed as well during your ordeal.

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
I'm happy to hear no one was injured, and that you did not have a fire.
My aunt and uncle were watching television one evening when a lightning bolt struck their house. It put a dinner plate size hole in the living room wall and blew up the television set in that room as well as damaging a radio in the kitchen.
When I was younger, lightning damaged two ash trees in the yard; they each split in two. My Dad was milking cows in the barn, and a fireball rolled down the milking parlor just behind where he and the cows stood and I sat. Luckily, it did not hit anyone or start a fire. What power!
Kathy

[Just a Flipflop Mom]

Oh my goodness.. my in-loves car was zapped by lightning and totaled ( my poor father in love is an electrician too)... their whole electrical unit was fizzled out!! Such scary stuff!!

[Betsy Mech]

Oh, My Gosh, Maratha I didn't realize lightening could do so much damage. Glad everyone is ok. I do not think there is anything out there that can really help with lightening doing damage to property. We are helpless to the act of God.