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, based on new knowledge 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 %, 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,” mentioned Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I. “Nonetheless, lightning stays a big 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 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 pricey and unpredictable risk, with floor surges inflicting practically half of all claims,” mentioned Michal Brower of State Farm. “These occasions may cause in depth injury to electrical methods, home equipment, and even structural points. The injury underscores the important want for householders to pay attention to 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. Widespread impacts embrace:
- Fires in attics, roofs, or partitions
- Energy surges that destroy electronics and home equipment
- Structural injury
- Damage and even dying
The right way to Keep Protected
Owners 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.
Harm brought on by lightning, equivalent to fireplace, 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 fee of 100 occasions per second.
“Whether or not it’s a household dwelling or a mission-critical facility, no property is proof against lightning,” mentioned Tim Harger, Govt Director at LPI, whose group gives sources for the design, set up, and inspection of lightning safety methods. “The best 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 conserving folks secure 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 scale back publicity to pricey injury later.
Be taught Extra:
Lightning Safety Institute
The Significance of Defending Essential Amenities From Lightning Strikes
Lightning: Quantifying a Advanced, Expensive Peril to Help Resilience
Past Hearth: Triple-I Interview Unravels Lightning-Threat Complexity
