Latest news with #NationalLightningSafetyAwarenessWeek
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Climate
- USA Today
People keep being struck by lightning: 4 reports in about 24 hours
The lightning injuries occur just as the 25th annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week kicks off on June 22. At least four people were struck by lightning over a time span of roughly 24 hours on June 19 and 20 as summer thunderstorms pummeled parts of the nation. A 15-year-old boy survived being struck by lightning in Central Park in New York City on the afternoon of June 19, according to reports by Accuweather and media outlets in the area. The following day, on June 20, three men experienced jolts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on the state's east-central coast. A 29-year-old Colorado man standing in the ocean in ankle deep water around 12:30 p.m. was critically injured by a lightning strike, according to Tammy Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue. A bystander and lifeguards immediately started life-saving measures, but the victim was unresponsive when taken from the scene to a local hospital, authorities said. Later that afternoon, about eight miles inland, two men on the Venetian Bay golf course were jolted when lightning struck nearby, but neither of them were taken to the hospital, according to WESH 2, a local television station The lightning injuries occur just as the 25th annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week kicks off on June 22. 'It's a good time to remember the dangers that exist,' said John Jensenius, lightning specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council. 'We are about to enter the peak of the lightning season across the U.S.,' Jensenius said. 'With the increased lightning activity and the increase in people enjoying outdoor activities, we typically see an increase in lightning fatalities from late June through August." On June 8, Spencer Loalbo, a 41-year-old father of three and his father were golfing in Gunter, Texas when they were hit by a single bolt from a single storm cloud, authorities said, according to NBC 5 in Dallas. Loalbo was killed in the "blink of an eye" stated a Go Fund Me fundraiser set up for his wife and daughters. His father was critically injured and taken to a hospital. Spencer Loalbo's death was the third lightning fatality in the U.S. this year. The leading cause of lightning deaths is fishing, and it's already responsible for two lightning deaths this year, USA TODAY previously reported. Lightning strikes on golf courses are tied with yard work for 11th place on the list of activities responsible for the most lightning deaths, Jensenius said. Forty-two lightning deaths have been reported in Texas since 2006, second only to Florida, where 93 deaths have been attributed to lightning over the same time span. Several hundred people are injured by lightning each year. Most survive, but many have lifelong neurological symptoms. If you're going to be outside, it's important to remain alert for changing weather conditions, according to the Safety Council and National Weather Service. Plan in advance where you would seek shelter, and if you hear thunder, go indoors. How do people get struck by lightning? In one of four ways: Where can you shelter if caught outside? Learn more about lightning: Contributing: Patricio G. Balona and Sheldon Gardner, Daytona Beach News-Journal, USA TODAY Network, and Doyle Rice, USA TODAY.
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Triple-I: Lightning Caused $1.04B in US Homeowners Claim Payouts in 2024; Frequency Drops 21.5% Year-Over-Year
MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. insurers paid $1.04 billion in lightning-related homeowners insurance claims in 2024, a 16.5% decrease from the $1.24 billion paid out in 2023, according to the latest figures from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). 'Fewer claims and a decline in severity indicate increased awareness and improved mitigation." The total number of lightning-caused claims also fell significantly, down 21.5% to 55,537 in 2024, the lowest number of claims since before 2017. More than half of all claims came from the top 10 states, with Florida, Texas and California leading the nation. 'Fewer claims and a decline in severity indicate increased awareness, and improved mitigation,' said Triple-I CEO Sean Kevelighan. 'Nonetheless, lightning remains a significant threat to property and safety, particularly during storm season.' Based on national insurance claims data compiled to coincide with National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 22-28, 2025), the Triple-I estimated that: In 2024, U.S. lightning–caused claims decreased by 21.5% to 55,537 (from 70,787 in 2023), with the top 10 states by number of claims contributing to more than half of the total. National claim value decreased 16.5% (from $1.24 billion) to $1.04 billion. While the national average cost per claim was $18,641, the average per claim was $38,558 in Texas. 'Lightning remains a costly and unpredictable threat, with ground surges causing nearly half of all claims,' said Michal Brower of State Farm. 'These events can cause extensive damage to electrical systems, appliances and even structural issues. The damage underscores the critical need for homeowners to be aware of the risks, invest in protective measures, and stay prepared, especially in high-risk regions where lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging.' State Farm is the largest writer of homeowners insurance in the U.S., with direct premiums written of $31.46 billion in 2024. Homeowners Insurance Claims and Payout for Lightning Losses, 2017-2024 Year Value of claims ($ millions) Number of claims Average cost per claim 2017 $916.61 85,020 $10,781 2018 908.93 77,898 11,668 2019 920.05 76,860 11,971 2020 2,066.74 71,551 28,885 2021 1,313.06 60,851 21,578 2022 950.22 62,189 15,280 2023 1,239.72 70,787 17,513 2024 1,035.28 55,537 18,641 Percent change 2024 - 2023 -16.5% -21.5% 6.4% 2024 - 2017 12.9% -34.7% 72.9% Source: Insurance Information Institute, State Farm®. Expand State Rankings Not surprisingly, Florida – the state which incurs the most thunderstorms annually – remained the top state for the number of lightning claims in 2024, with 4,780. However, Texas had the highest average cost per claim at $38,558. Top 10 States for Homeowners Insurance Lightning Losses by Number of Claims, 2024 Rank State Value of claims Number of claims Average cost per claim 1 Florida $113,218,813 4,780 $23,686 2 Texas 168,461,044 4,369 38,558 3 California 75,028,400 4,005 18,734 4 Georgia 48,546,426 3,376 14,380 5 North Carolina 30,299,433 2,574 11,771 6 Louisiana 34,306,009 2,283 15,027 7 Alabama 36,617,416 2,175 16,836 8 New York 34,109,020 1,937 17,609 9 Pennsylvania 15,777,521 1,792 8,804 10 Illinois 24,068,318 1,626 14,802 Top 10 States $580,432,401 28,917 $20,072 Source: Insurance Information Institute, State Farm®. Expand Damage caused by lightning, such as fire, is covered by standard homeowners, condo, renters and business insurance policies. Some homeowners policies provide coverage for power surges that are the direct result of a lightning strike. The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) noted that lightning strikes can occur at an astonishing 100 times per second. 'Whether it's a family home or a mission-critical facility, no property is immune to lightning," said Tim Harger, executive director at LPI, whose organization provides resources for the design, installation and inspection of lightning protection systems. 'The most effective time to prevent lightning damage is before a storm. A lightning risk assessment paired with a professionally installed protection system can make all the difference in keeping people safe and operations uninterrupted.' Facts and Statistics: Lightning Lightning Video The Dangers of Shoddy Lightning Protection System Installations ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Lightning Protection Institute NOAA/National Weather Service Small Business Administration About the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) Since 1960, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) has been the trusted voice of risk and insurance, delivering unique, data-driven insights to educate, elevate, and connect consumers, industry professionals, policymakers, and the media. An affiliate of The Institutes, Triple-I represents a diverse membership accounting for nearly 50% of all U.S. property/casualty premiums written. Our members include mutual and stock companies, personal and commercial lines, primary insurers, and reinsurers – serving regional, national, and global markets. About The Institutes The Institutes® are a not-for-profit comprised of diverse affiliates that educate, elevate, and connect people in the essential disciplines of risk management and insurance. Through products and services offered by The Institutes and nearly 20 affiliated business units, people and organizations are empowered to help those in need with a focus on understanding, predicting, and preventing losses to create a more resilient world. The Institutes is a registered trademark of The Institutes. All rights reserved.
