Being that this past week of June was National Lightning Awareness Week, we've compiled some very interesting general and insurance related facts pertaining to lightning.

DID YOU KNOW:

• In the northern hemisphere, two-thirds of strikes occur in June, July and August and mostly in the afternoon. 3 p.m. is the most dangerous time of day, it is five times more dangerous than 9 a.m. July is actually the most dangerous month for lightning strikes.
• About 2,000 people are killed worldwide by lightning each year.
• Lightning claims more lives on average in the U.S. every year than tornadoes and hurricanes combined.
• Cloud-to-ground lightning bolts are a common phenomenon—about 100 strike Earth's surface every single second.
• Number of lightning strikes per day - 8 Million.
• An estimated 307,000 lightning insurance claims are filed each year in the United States. That's about 1 claim for every 57 Cloud-to-Ground lightning strikes.
• Lightning causes about $400,000,000 in damages each year in the United States.
• Each year 3 to 5 percent of all insurance claims are due to lightning.
• The average payout for lightning claims has been steadily increasing since 2004 due in part to the damage to expensive electronic equipment in people's homes.
• The average residential lightning claim in 2009 cost $5,321.
• Lightning strikes cause more than 15% of fires in wood shingle roofed buildings.
• There are about 10,000 forest fires started by lightning each year. Florida is the lightning capital of the United States.
• 10% of all people struck by lightning were in Florida at the time.
• Strangely, men are struck by lightning four times as often as women.
• Lightning never strikes twice" is just a myth. Lightning can strike the same location many times. Lightning hits the Empire State Building (NY, USA) more than 500 times a year.

The following list of tips is offered by the U.S. Weather Service for your safety during thunderstorms and lightning events: This may be something you may want to pass along to your insureds.

• Avoid contact with corded phones. Cordless and cellular telephones are safe to use.
• Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so well before the storm arrives.
• Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
• Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
• Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.

If your insureds experience damage from lightning, heavy winds, flooding or hail, you can contact us for assistance at anytime 24/7. We guarantee a 10 minute call back so you can be assured your insureds will be taken care of in a very timely and personal manner.