When lightning strikes, it can cause expensive damage and even death. More than 71,000 lightning damage claims were filed through home insurance in one recent year. The value of those claims was more than $2 billion.

Having the right insurance and making sure your coverage is up to date can help protect you if lightning strikes your home in Illinois. An Illinois independent insurance agent can help you secure the coverage you need. 

How Does Home Insurance Protect against Lightning Damage?

Lightning is a covered peril in standard homeowners insurance policies. It will also cover damage from other events like fires, wind, hail, power surges, and severe storms. Your home insurance covers lightning damage in several ways.

• Coverage for the structure of your home: Your home insurance personal property coverage covers damage from lightning to the structure of your home, including garages, sheds, built-in appliances, and detached structures. This is referred to as the "dwelling" coverage in your policy.
• Coverage for your stuff: Your personal property coverage will also pay for your things inside the home. This includes furniture, clothes, sporting equipment, electronics, and similar items. This is referred to as "contents" coverage in your home insurance policy.
• Reimbursement for temporary living expenses: Home insurance will reimburse you for any costs associated with a temporary living situation. If you need to relocate to a hotel, your home insurance's additional living expenses (ALE) coverage pays for hotels, meals, mileage, and other costs. 

If lightning were to strike your home and result in a power surge that caused a kitchen fire, your home insurance would help pay to repair and replace the damaged items in the kitchen and get you back in your home as soon as possible. Anytime you file a claim with insurance, you're responsible for your deductible before the policy begins to pay.

Why Does Lightning Cause So Much Damage?

When lightning strikes, its core temperature is approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This explains why direct fires are a common effect of lightning strikes. At these temperatures, it instantly turns moisture into steam. Moisture causes things like tree sap and concrete to expand and then burst, resulting in a fire. 

The major hazards caused by lightning include: 

• Fire damage: High temperatures on construction materials like wood can easily cause an explosion. The current from lightning traveling through wires and pipelines can cause them to burn instantly. 
• Power surge damage: Each lightning bolt is about 300  million volts of electricity. If that voltage goes through the electrical wiring in your home, it can damage anything that the wiring is connected to.
• Shock wave damage: Shock waves that result from lightning can crack and fracture brick, stone, and concrete. 

The average household outlet carries 110 volts. When considering the high temperature and potential voltage of a lightning strike, it's easy to see why lightning can cause severe damage to your home, electrical wiring, and property. 

What about My Car? If it Gets Hit by Lightning, What Protects It?

Your car is another valuable asset you want to keep protected. Damage from lightning and other similar events is covered under comprehensive insurance. This is optional coverage that can be added to your policy. Even though it's optional, it's worth considering because it's the only way insurance would help out with damage from unexpected events like falling trees, lightning strikes, hitting a deer, and other falling objects. 

Whether you're in your vehicle during a lightning storm or your vehicle is sitting outside your home, lightning claims always fall under your auto insurance. You'd never file a claim with your home insurance for your car. 

If you find yourself driving during a lightning storm, it's best to stay in your vehicle and never get out to walk around. 

Is Lightning Damage Really That Common?

Unfortunately, lightning damage is a common threat to homes. In Illinois, lightning damage is the most common risk to homeowners. The electric voltage and heat from a lightning strike can ignite construction materials, get into your home's electrical wiring, and cause extensive damage to your property.

• There are around 20 lightning fatalities per year in the US
• In one recent year, more than 71,000 lightning claims were filed against home insurance
• The 71,000 claims were valued at more than $2 billion
• The average cost per claim was $28,885

When lightning strikes, it's devastating. Whether it's common where you live or not, understanding your coverage can help you be prepared. 

How to File a Claim after Lightning Strikes Your Illinois Home

If lightning strikes your Illinois home, you'll want to take the necessary steps to keep you and your family safe before dealing with the damage. If you need to file a claim with your insurance, here are the steps to take. 

1. Assess the damage: Once the storm has passed and it is safe to do so, assess the damage to your home. Do not go into the home if a fire has ignited and you're uncertain whether the home's structure is sound. If you can enter the house, record any damage you see with photos and videos. Do not move anything.
2. Call your independent agent: Agents will walk you through the steps for filing a claim. Give them a call and let them know what's happened to get started. 
3. Consider your deductible: If you file a claim with your insurance, you will be responsible for your deductible. This is important to keep in mind when assessing the damage. If there is minimal damage to your home, it may not be worth filing a claim. 
4. Receive payment: The insurance company will send out an adjuster to assess the damage, and you'll go through the claims process to receive payment. Once you get the go-ahead from your insurance company, you can start making repairs and rebuilding. Your insurance will reimburse you for these costs. 

4 Ways to Protect Your Home from Lightning

We can never control the weather, but there are steps you can take that could help limit the amount of damage lightning can do to your home. 

1. Install surge protectors: If your home has a variety of electronics, such as computers, televisions, cable boxes, etc., surge protectors can help protect them from a power surge.
2. Install a lightning protection system: These systems are specifically designed to protect against fire and structural damage. The system will guide the lightning directly into the ground when lightning strikes. 
3. Take a detailed inventory of your personal property: Property inventories allow you to know what personal possessions you had before a disaster strikes to get adequately reimbursed.
4. Review your home insurance with your agent: It's suggested that you review your home policy with your agent at least once a year. Your agent can help you identify risks and ensure that you have the coverage you need and the right coverage limits.

Why Work with an Illinois Independent Insurance Agent?

An essential part of owning a home is having protection for your assets. Unexpected events can occur at any time, and homeowners have a lot at risk. An Illinois independent insurance agent understands these risks and the insurance coverages you need to be protected.

Agents will chat with you, free of charge, to learn about your home and your insurance needs. They'll shop multiple insurance quotes to find you policies that fit within your budget and offer comprehensive coverage. Agents can guide you in choosing a policy, updating your policy, and filing an insurance claim if you ever need to. Let a local agent help you get protection from lightning and other disasters today.