Facts + Statistics: Lightning

In 2019 there were 20 direct lightning fatalities, compared with 21 in 2018, according to the National Weather Service. From 2010 to 2019 on average 26 people died each year from lightning strikes in the United States.

Florida and Texas were tied for the most lightning deaths in 2019 with three deaths, followed by two in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Ohio according to statistics from National Weather Service. North Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina each reported one lightning death. For more information on lightning claims and payouts, see the Homeowners Claims section.

 

Lightning Fatalities By State, 2019

 

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Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service.

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Homeowners insurance losses

The number of homeowners insurance claims from lightning strikes in the United States fell in 2019, but the average cost that insurers paid on those claims has increased by 11 percent between 2017 and 2019, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). More than $900 million in lightning claims were paid out in 2019 to nearly 77,000 policyholders. The cumulative value of claims caused by lightning rose 1.2 percent between 2018 and 2019 and 0.4 percent from 2017-2019.  “It’s not surprising that lightning-related homeowners insurance claims costs have risen,” said James Lynch, chief actuary and senior vice president of Research and Education at the Triple-I. “Homes are more susceptible to lightning damage because electronic systems have become more interconnected – think Smart Homes – which have an easy gateway to much of a home’s electronic network, damaging scores of devices and appliances at once.” Lynch added the average cost per claim rose 2.6 percent from 2018 to 2019.

 

Lightning fires in residential vs. non-residential properties

From 2007 to 2011 (latest data available) local U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 22,600 fires per year that were started by lighting, according to an analysis by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These fires caused an average of nine civilian deaths and $451 million in direct property damage per year, according to the NFPA. Home fires accounted for 19 percent of the lightning fires, fires in non-residential structures, including businesses and other non-residential properties, accounted for 7 percent; vehicle fires accounted for 1 percent. The remaining 73 percent were in outdoor and unclassified properties.

Lightning fires in non-residential properties caused an average of $108 million in direct property damage each year from 2007 to 2011, according to the survey. The average annual damage in non-residential properties includes:

• $28 million in storage facilities
• $22 million in places of assembly, such as houses of worship and restaurants
• $19 million in nonhome residential properties such as hotels and motels
• $15 million in mercantile and business properties such as offices, specialty shops and department stores
• $15 million in industrial and manufacturing facilities
• $3 million in outside properties
• $3 million in educational and healthcare facilities
• $3 million in miscellaneous properties

 

Fires Started By Lightning By Type Of Structure, 2007-2011 (1)

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(1) Reported to local fire departments.

Source: National Fire Protection Association.

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Lightning Incidents By Month, 2007-2011

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Source: National Fire Protection Association.

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For more information on lightning, please see The Lightning Protection Institute.