27-05-2025
Veteran's house struck by lightning causes ceiling to cave in
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An Air Force veteran's house was struck by lightning in Bartlett while he was out of town.
Willie Hooper's home was struck by lightning during Sunday's severe weather in Shelby County.
The 62-year-old told WREG he was on his way to visit his daughter in Ohio, and he started to feel ill so he stopped in Kentucky.
'I could not see my cameras that I have on my house. They were not working,' said Hooper. 'So, I talked to my neighbor and she said she has power and she didn't know the issue was, so I called my son and then I called MLGW.'
At first, Hooper says he thought someone maybe cut the security system and broke into his house.
'And soon as we walked upstairs, I see the ceiling kind of caved in,' said Willie Hopper Jr., son. 'The guy from MLGW was behind me he kind of looked over my shoulder and said 'We got the answer, we know what the culprit is.''
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The technician determined the damage was caused by a lightning strike to the roof. Hooper said he was thankful he was not home.
'There was definitely a point where the boom and the flash happened at exactly the same time. We were watching TV and it startled us all,' said his neighbor.
'Where it hit is where my computer is at, and that is exactly where I normally sit,' said Willie Hooper. 'So I think it's a thing that God is trying to tell me something.'
Hooper is headed back to Bartlett to check on the damage to his house. The Bartlett Fire Department told WREG they did not respond to Hooper's home because they were not called for assistance.
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