By Loretta Worters, Vice President, Media Relations, Triple-I
Lightning-related householders’ insurance coverage claims totaled $1.04 billion in 2024, a 16.5 p.c lower from 2023, in keeping with new knowledge from the Insurance coverage Info Institute and State Farm, the biggest author of house owners’ insurance coverage in the US. The variety of lightning-caused claims additionally fell considerably, dropping 21.5 p.c, to 55,537, the bottom degree recorded since earlier than 2017.
Greater than half of all claims got here from the highest 10 states, with Florida, Texas, and California main the nation in lightning-related property losses.
“Fewer claims and a decline in severity point out elevated consciousness and improved mitigation,” stated Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I. “Nonetheless, lightning stays a big menace to property and security, significantly throughout storm season.”
Key lightning declare stats for 2024
- Complete variety of claims: 55,537 (down from 70,787 in 2023)
- Complete claims worth: $1.04 billion (down from $1.24 billion)
- Nationwide common price per declare: $18,641
- Highest state common: $38,558 in Texas
High three states by lightning losses
- Florida – 4,780 claims, $113M in damages
- Texas – 4,369 claims, $168M in damages
- California – 4,005 claims, $75M in damages
“Lightning stays a expensive and unpredictable menace, with floor surges inflicting almost half of all claims,” stated Michal Brower of State Farm. “These occasions could cause intensive injury to electrical techniques, home equipment, and even structural points. The injury underscores the crucial want for householders to concentrate on the dangers, spend money on protecting measures, and keep ready, particularly in high-risk areas the place lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging.”
Lightning strikes could cause greater than only a energy outage. Widespread impacts embrace:
- Fires in attics, roofs, or partitions
- Energy surges that destroy electronics and home equipment
- Structural injury
- Harm and even dying
Find out how to Keep Protected
Owners can defend their households and property by following a number of pointers:
- Set up whole-home surge safety and unplug gadgets throughout storms;
- Contemplate a licensed lightning safety system;
- Examine your householders’ insurance coverage coverage for lightning and surge-related protection; and
- Keep indoors and keep away from wired gadgets throughout thunderstorms.
Injury attributable to lightning, reminiscent of fireplace, is roofed by commonplace householders’ insurance coverage insurance policies. Some insurance policies present protection for energy surges which can be the direct results of a lightning strike.
The Lightning Safety Institute (LPI) notes that lightning strikes can happen at an astonishing price of 100 instances per second.
“Whether or not it’s a household residence or a mission-critical facility, no property is resistant to lightning,” stated Tim Harger, Government Director at LPI, whose group offers sources for the design, set up, and inspection of lightning safety techniques. “The simplest time to stop lightning injury is earlier than a storm. A lightning danger evaluation paired with a professionally put in safety system could make all of the distinction in retaining individuals protected and operations uninterrupted.”
Whereas lightning-related claims could also be down, the danger remains to be very actual, particularly in high-strike areas like Florida, Texas, and California. Taking preventive steps now can cut back publicity to expensive injury later.
Study Extra:
Lightning Safety Institute
The Significance of Defending Vital Services From Lightning Strikes
Lightning: Quantifying a Advanced, Pricey Peril to Help Resilience
Past Hearth: Triple-I Interview Unravels Lightning-Threat Complexity
