Lightning and Thunderstorm Damages - Part 1

9/10/2019 (Permalink)

With floods, heavy rains and high winds, thunderstorms can cause damage in so many ways. One of the most dramatic of these can be through lightning, which can lead to fires, power surges and other property damages. Because a single lightning bolt can be as hot as 500,000 degrees, their strikes are often highly dangerous.

Though there is no way to prevent lightning strikes, it is important to understand the types of damage they cause in order to be aware of what to look out for.

How Is Lightning Formed?

Electricity is at the heart of every thunderstorm, which is what causes thunder and lightning. A lightning bolt is the discharge of electrical energy in a short burst, either striking across the clouds or below the ground.

Lightning attempts to reach the ground as quickly as possible because the atmosphere is such a poor conductor. Instead of traveling through the air for longer, it will typically strike an object on its way to the ground. If this object is a house or building, it will make use of the electrical wires and water pipes to get where it is going.

If your home or office has been affected by storm damages or lightning-related fires, give us a call today! SERVPRO of North Huntington are the experts in fire damage cleanup and restoration.