By Loretta Worters, Vice President, Media Relations, Triple-I
Lightning-related householders’ insurance coverage claims totaled $1.04 billion in 2024, a 16.5 % lower from 2023, in accordance with new knowledge from the Insurance coverage Data Institute and State Farm, the biggest author of house owners’ insurance coverage in the USA. The variety of lightning-caused claims additionally fell considerably, dropping 21.5 %, to 55,537, the bottom stage 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, notably throughout storm season.”
Key lightning declare stats for 2024
- Whole variety of claims: 55,537 (down from 70,787 in 2023)
- Whole claims worth: $1.04 billion (down from $1.24 billion)
- Nationwide common value 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 pricey and unpredictable menace, with floor surges inflicting almost half of all claims,” stated Michal Brower of State Farm. “These occasions may cause in depth injury to electrical techniques, home equipment, and even structural points. The injury underscores the important 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 may cause greater than only a energy outage. Widespread impacts embody:
- Fires in attics, roofs, or partitions
- Energy surges that destroy electronics and home equipment
- Structural injury
- Harm and even demise
Methods to Keep Protected
Owners can shield their households and property by following just a few tips:
- Set up whole-home surge safety and unplug gadgets throughout storms;
- Contemplate an authorized lightning safety system;
- Verify your householders’ insurance coverage coverage for lightning and surge-related protection; and
- Keep indoors and keep away from wired gadgets throughout thunderstorms.
Harm attributable to lightning, resembling hearth, is roofed by customary householders’ insurance coverage insurance policies. Some insurance policies present protection for energy surges which might be the direct results of a lightning strike.
The Lightning Safety Institute (LPI) notes that lightning strikes can happen at an astonishing fee of 100 instances 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 techniques. “The best time to forestall lightning injury is earlier than a storm. A lightning threat evaluation paired with a professionally put in safety system could make all of the distinction in preserving individuals protected and operations uninterrupted.”
Whereas lightning-related claims could also be down, the chance continues to be very actual, particularly in high-strike areas like Florida, Texas, and California. Taking preventive steps now can cut back publicity to pricey injury later.
Study Extra:
The Significance of Defending Important Services From Lightning Strikes
Lightning: Quantifying a Advanced, Expensive Peril to Assist Resilience
Past Hearth: Triple-I Interview Unravels Lightning-Danger Complexity
