In 2022, lightning strikes caused over $950 million in homeowners insurance claims across the United States, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).
The data, released to coincide with Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 18-24), revealed that more than 62,000 policyholders filed claims, with California alone accounting for $125 million of the total.
The report from Triple-I highlighted several key findings. Firstly, there was a significant decrease of over 27 percent in the total value of lightning-caused homeowners insurance claims in 2022, compared to the previous year, which amounted to $1.3 billion.
Despite this decline, the number of claims increased slightly by 2.2 percent, reaching 62,189 in 2022 compared to 60,851 in 2021. The top ten states with the highest number of claims contributed to around half of the total.
The average cost per lightning-caused claim also experienced a significant decline of 29 percent. In 2021, the average cost was $21,578, but in 2022 it dropped to $15,280.
Severe convective storms, including thunderstorms with lightning, tornadoes, hail, and destructive straight-line winds, were identified as one of the most common and damaging natural catastrophes in the United States.
With warm, moist air rising from the earth, these storms manifest in various forms depending on atmospheric conditions.
“Insurers are moving toward predicting and preventing losses by advocating for resilience in coordination with the real-time application of technology,” stated Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I.
“Lightning Safety Awareness Week highlights the dangers lightning poses to life and property and how insurers and policyholders are reducing these risks.”
Analysing the state rankings, Florida, known for its high incidence of thunderstorms, reported the highest number of lightning claims in 2022, with 5,504.
However, it was California that had the highest average cost per claim, amounting to $36,319. Texas followed closely behind with an average cost of $25,286 per claim.
Homeowners insurance policies typically cover damages caused by lightning, including fires resulting from strikes. Some policies also provide coverage for power surges directly caused by lightning.
The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) stressed the importance of taking preemptive measures to protect property before a storm. According to Tim Harger, the executive director of LPI, a properly installed lightning protection system has been scientifically proven to mitigate the damage caused by lightning strikes.
Ensuring personal safety and risk reduction requires proactive steps to safeguard homes, businesses, and critical facilities within communities, Harger said.
