Panama City Beach Storm Damage Repair Tips on Everything to Do if Your House Gets Struck by Lightning
Did you know that Florida is the lightning strike capital of the US? Those in the Panama City Beach area probably know this as well as anyone.
We all admire thunderstorms and lightning, at least from a safe distance. When your house gets struck by lightning, however, it’s a different story. In fact, it’s one of the more common causes of house fires, and good prevention and storm damage repair can make the difference between some annoying fixes and having catastrophic problems in your home.
Here’s everything you need to know about lightning striking a house (and what to do next).
Signs Your Panama City Beach House Was Struck by Lightning
For starters, let’s make sure your home was actually struck by lightning. Sometimes it’s not always obvious, especially if you weren’t at home when it happened.
Here are some key signs to watch out for:
- Your power surges and/or goes out
- Your electronics or appliances are damaged
- You hear a loud explosive “BOOM” sound
- You hear buzzing or hissing sounds
- You find charred marks in your attic, on your roof, or around your electrical outlets
- You see signs of fire damage or water damage (especially in the attic)
- You notice an electrical fire smell without smoke
- You find a hole in your roof or notice damaged or missing shingles
It might seem like a long shot, but the truth is that there are over 19 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes every year. If you notice any of these signs your house was struck by lightning, take immediate action.
What to Do After Lightning Strikes a House
Your first step is to check all areas of your home for signs of a fire. If you find any indications of fire, smoke, or smoldering, call 911 and get the Panama City Beach Fire Department there ASAP.
Once the immediate crisis has passed, it’s time to consider the rest of your home. Is there related damage that could create a hazardous environment?
Check for things like:
- Holes in the roof
- Exposed or fried wires
- Shorted appliances
- Exposed beams
- Damaged trees
- Downed powerlines
If you find anything that could be potentially dangerous, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. Get yourself to a safe location and contact your insurance company.
You’ll want them to get working on the homeowner’s or renter’s claim right away. If you have to stay overnight (or longer) in another location, keep all your receipts. More than likely, you’ll get these expenses reimbursed as part of your claim.
Next, you’ll need to contact a company that specializes in storm damage restoration and repair. The exact services you require will depend on the nature of the damage. For example, do you need a hole patched in your roof, or do you need restoration services after an attic fire?
You’ll also want to have an electrician inspect your electrical system for damage. The last thing you want to do is survive a lightning strike and then get injured by electrocution in your home.
House Struck by Lightning? Call Experts in Panama City Beach
Hopefully, you’ll weather many thunderstorms without ever having your home get struck by lightning. If you do find yourself in this unfortunate situation, though, you’ll need expert help to clean up and restore the damage.
That’s where we come in. Our team of restoration experts specializes in storm damage and fire damage that often results after lightning strikes a house.
Contact us today in the Panama City Beach area to receive a free inspection and estimate.