Latest news with #SkyFox
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is lightning damage covered by insurance? Strike sparks fire that destroys Seminole County home
The Brief A lightning strike late Monday night ignited a fire that destroyed a Seminole County home, with neighbors witnessing the rapid blaze. Florida leads the nation in lightning-related insurance claims, stressing the need for proper coverage. Experts urge residents to review their policies, especially regarding deductibles and solar panel protection. SANFORD, Fla. - A home in Seminole County was destroyed after it was struck by lightning late Monday night, sparking a massive fire that left the structure with its roof collapsed and neighbors shaken. What we know A home in Seminole County was severely damaged after being struck by lightning late Monday night, resulting in a fire that destroyed the roof and left the structure unsafe. Firefighters at the scene believe the cause was lightning, though the fire marshal's official report is still pending. Aerial footage from Sky Fox clearly shows the extensive damage, highlighting the collapsed and charred roof. What we don't know While lightning is the suspected cause, the fire marshal has yet to make a formal determination. The extent of the financial loss to the homeowners and whether the family inside sustained any injuries remain unreported. It is also unclear whether the homeowners' insurance policy will fully cover the damages or if there will be out-of-pocket expenses. Big picture view Florida consistently faces a high number of lightning-related incidents and claims. In 2023 alone, the state led the nation with more than $100 million filed in lightning insurance claims. This highlights the ongoing risk residents face during storm season and underscores the importance of reviewing insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage, especially for unique assets like solar panels. Lightning strikes are generally covered by insurance, both for homes and vehicles. A standard homeowners' insurance policy covers damage caused by lightning strikes, including fires and smoke damage, and damage to the structure of the house, garage, shed, or other structures on the property. The policy also covers damage to personal property inside the home, such as electronics, appliances, and furniture, if it's caused by a lightning strike. Some policies offer optional coverage for power surges caused by lightning, according to American Family Insurance. While lightning-related damage is often covered under homeowners' insurance, Floridians should double-check their policies and deductibles. Solar panel owners should also confirm if their coverage includes those systems. What they're saying A house in the Buckingham Estates neighborhood of Sanford was destroyed Tuesday evening after it was struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm, responding firefighters told FOX 35 News. Nearby resident Christa Gonzalez described the terrifying moment the strike occurred. "We both jumped out of our chairs and were like, 'Oh my gosh,'" she recalled. "We came out here and they had already gotten their dogs out, and they were fine, but it was scary how fast it happened." Gregory Buck, of National Risk Experts, advised homeowners to check their policies carefully. "You're likely to have either typically a $1,000, $2,500, or even $5,000 deductible for those damages done by the lightning, so yes, you're going to be covered, but know what those out-of-pocket costs are. " STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by Seminole County Fire Rescue, Buckingham Estates residents, Gregory Buck, of National Risk Experts, and American Family Insurance.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Skokie officials declare emergency after water main break
SKOKIE, Ill. - The Village of Skokie Board of Trustees voted on Tuesday night to declare last week's water main break an emergency. Now, officials are working to secure state or federal funding for residents who suffered property damage as a result of subsequent flooding. Around 5:15 a.m. Friday, a break in one of Skokie's major water transmission mains caused extensive flooding on several blocks and prompted a widespread, days-long boil order. According to officials, the 36-inch transmission main is a crucial water supply line serving Skokie residents from Evanston's water supply. The break, which occurred near Emerson Street and East Prairie Road, left the entire Village of Skokie without running water Friday and it took until Sunday before the boil order could be lifted. Some Evanston residents were also placed under a precautionary boil order Friday. SkyFox video captured the extent of Friday's flooding, which continued for hours until crews were able to shut the water off and begin digging into the street. Repairs have been made but residents in the immediate area are now grappling with flood-damaged homes and submerged vehicles, including a single mother of three, Kathleen Schmidt. "I want to learn what they're going to do to help us out because insurance is only going to cover so much. This is only going to cover the Blue Book price of the vehicles. My dad's retired and he lost both his vehicles, which have been with us a long time, so now he has to replace his vehicle, but he's semi-retired," Schmidt said. "It's going to be hard on him and I haven't paid off my car yet and so financially it's going to be hard to replace them. We are waiting for insurance to go through; we are waiting for them to even check out our cars. It took two days for them to tow 'em." Public works officials say it appears a fitting cap installed in 1963 failed. They are investigating exactly what caused the failure—explaining that fitting cap components typically last between 80 and 100 years. Meantime, officials say they are preparing a Preliminary Damage Assessment Report to submit to Cook County Emergency Management and Regional Security, in hopes to be able to offer financial support to the impacted residents. Skokie residents who experienced damage are encouraged to submit a property damage report online, as officials say this will help the village qualify for disaster relief. To submit a property damage report, residents should send an email to riskmgmt@ with the following information: Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Description of damages related to the water main break or water outage An estimate of the damages you have experienced (if you are able to provide one) Any other information which you believe to be relevant Any related photos Officials say the email is not an application for reimbursement, rather it will help the village qualify for funding.
