Pop-up storms have been happening all over Georgia throughout the spring, which can cause wind damage, heavy rains and an abundance of lightning strikes. Whether the threat of a thunderstorm makes you nervous or not, lightning hitting your house is no joke.
Lightning strikes the planet around 50 times per second, and just one lightning strike flash can release one billion joules of energy within a microsecond. When this hits a house, it can disrupt your power, cause fires or can even electrocute the people inside.
Although dealing with lightning from time to time is a fact of life in Georgia, you can take steps to protect your home from the direct impact of lightning strikes.
Plan if you can.
Scientists hypothesize that lightning occurs when positive ions from the ground connect with negative ions from a cloud, resulting in an electrostatic discharge. Since the positive ions like to climb up tall objects, like trees, power poles or your house, the higher the object within the surrounding terrain, the more vulnerable they are to lightning strikes. For example, a person standing alone in a flat field during a lightning storm is at risk of a strike, as is a house perched up on a hilltop. If you're wanting to buy or build a house, keep the terrain in mind. While mountain-side vistas may look gorgeous in the fall, this type of location could increase your lightning risk. Building a home on a rise in the middle of a wide-open meadow might also mean a higher chance of lightning strike.
Credit: Courtesy of Ben Gray
Credit: Courtesy of Ben Gray
Safeguard the exterior.
One way to keep lightning from damaging your home is to install a lightning rod, which channels a direct strike safely away from your home. Although the handy man in your house might want to just get the job done, it's important to have a lightning rod installed by a professional to make sure that it will work properly to protect your home. The redirected lightning will travel through the ground, so make sure to plan your landscaping accordingly by planting taller trees away from the house.
Avoid dangers inside.
If lightning does strike your home, keep your family safe from shock by taking certain precautions. Avoid highly conductive fixtures, like toilets, faucets, sinks and pipes, and save the landline phone calls for another time. Keep your electronics in your home safe by installing surge protectors and unplugging devices during thunderstorms. Although you might want to keep surfing the net until the storm has passed, you're better off keeping all important electronics like computers, phones and other electrically based systems unplugged to avoid damage.
Atlanta @ Home is a monthly series from The Atlanta-Journal Constitution that offers inspiration and ideas for home party planning, decor, improvement and other helpful tips Atlanta's homeowners can use. Contact Stephanie Toone at stephanie.toone@ajc.com to share any insights or home ideas for future series.
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