THE IMAGES BELOW ARE FROM A LIGHTNING STRIKE DURING A HEAVY DOWNPOUR ON THE EVENING OF 09/30/05 NEAR LEEDEY, OK. I FIND THIS INCIDENT INTRIGUING BECAUSE THE LIGHTNING DID NOT ENTER THE HOME FROM THE USUAL SOURCES SUCH AS ELECTRIC, PHONE, CABLE, TV ANTENNA, PLUMBING, OR NEARBY TREE. NOT TO MENTION THAT IT’S NOT A TOTAL FIRE AND THERE IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING LEFT TO EXAMINE AND STUDY WHY IT TAKES THE PATH THAT IT DID.

THIS LIGHTNING APPEARS TO HAVE STRUCK THE HOME DIRECTLY AND ENTERED FROM A METAL VENT NEAR THE PEAK OF A SIDED GABLE. NOTE THE BURN MARKS ON THE LEFT CORNERS AND JUST LEFT OF THE TOP CENTER. CREDIT ALL IMAGES TO GERALD KNECHT, OUR ADJUSTOR.

THE STRIKE ALSO CAUSED EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE AREA JUST ABOVE THE METAL VENT SHOWN BELOW.

THEN IT GOT INTERESTING. IMAGE BELOW IS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VENT IN THE ATTIC LOOKING AT THE GABLE STUDS, WHICH RUN FROM THE TOP OF THE ATTIC TO THE BOTTOM, OR FROM INSIDE THE HOME, IT WOULD YET BE ABOVE YOUR CEILING.

THE STRIKE CONTINUED LOWER, SOMETIMES SPLATTERING OUT LARGE CHUCKS, WHICH MADE HOLES LARGE ENOUGH FOR ONE TO SEE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE GABLE STUD.

IMAGE BELOW SHOWS HOW THE LIGHTNING CONTINUED TO RUN DOWN THE STUD, HEADED TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE ATTIC OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE CEILING. IT APPEARS THE LIGHTNING WAS HOPPING DOWN THE STUD, POSSIBLY AIDED BY THE METAL STAPLES USED TO ATTACH THE CELATEX OR BLACKBOARD.

NOW LOOKING BELOW AT THE GROUND FLOOR, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE THE GARAGE. THE STRIKE CONTINUES TO THE GROUND, POPPING OUT NAILS AND NOW SHEETROCK IN IT’S PATH.

THE AREA APPEARS TO HAVE A BIRD NEST OR STRAW IN BETWEEN THE STUDS, BUT IT IS THE SPLINTERING OF STUDS, CAUSED BY THE LIGHTNING.

MOST THE ENTIRE DAMAGE WAS STRUCTURAL, WITH THE ONLY APPLIANCE DAMAGE OCCURRING ON THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER, MOTION LIGHT AND A CORDLESS PHONE (ALL PROBABLY ON THE SAME CIRCUIT). THE HOME DID NOT HAVE LIGHTNING RODS AND THE ELECTRIC SERVICE ENTERS THE HOME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE BY POLES AND IS NOT UNDERGROUND. PERSONALLY, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT LIGHTNING WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT ELECTRIC POLE MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE. IT DID TRIP THE BREAKER ON THE TRANSFORMER, BUT THAT DOESN’T REALLY TELL US ANYTHING CONCLUSIVE AS TO WHICH DIRECTION THE SURGE CAME FROM.

JUST THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT TIME YOU WAKE UP DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

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