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 response to new information from the Insurance coverage Info Institute and State Farm, the biggest author of householders’ insurance coverage in america. 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 major risk to property and security, notably 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 value per declare: $18,641
- Highest state common: $38,558 in Texas
Prime 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 risk, with floor surges inflicting almost half of all claims,” stated Michal Brower of State Farm. “These occasions may cause in depth harm to electrical programs, home equipment, and even structural points. The harm underscores the crucial want for householders to concentrate on the dangers, put money into protecting measures, and keep ready, particularly in high-risk areas the place lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging.”
Lightning strikes may cause greater than only a energy outage. Frequent impacts embody:
- Fires in attics, roofs, or partitions
- Energy surges that destroy electronics and home equipment
- Structural harm
- Damage and even demise
How one can Keep Protected
Householders can shield their households and property by following a number of pointers:
- Set up whole-home surge safety and unplug units throughout storms;
- Take into account a licensed lightning safety system;
- Verify your householders’ insurance coverage coverage for lightning and surge-related protection; and
- Keep indoors and keep away from wired units throughout thunderstorms.
Injury attributable to lightning, akin to hearth, is roofed by commonplace householders’ insurance coverage insurance policies. Some insurance policies present protection for energy surges which are the direct results of a lightning strike.
The Lightning Safety Institute (LPI) notes that lightning strikes can happen at an astonishing charge of 100 occasions per second.
“Whether or not it’s a household dwelling or a mission-critical facility, no property is resistant to lightning,” stated Tim Harger, Government Director at LPI, whose group supplies assets for the design, set up, and inspection of lightning safety programs. “The best time to forestall lightning harm is earlier than a storm. A lightning threat evaluation paired with a professionally put in safety system could make all of the distinction in retaining folks 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 harm later.
Be taught Extra:
The Significance of Defending Essential Amenities From Lightning Strikes
Lightning: Quantifying a Complicated, Expensive Peril to Help Resilience
Past Fireplace: Triple-I Interview Unravels Lightning-Danger Complexity
