Fire danger: The biggest danger lightning poses to a house is fire. Wood and other flammable building materials can easily be ignited anywhere an exposed lightning channel comes in contact with (or passes through) them. It is most common for lightning to start a fire in the attic or roof of a house, as the channel usually has to pass through some of the structural material in the roof before it can reach a more conductive path such as wiring or pipes. When lightning current travels through wires, it will commonly burn them up – presenting a fire ignition hazard anywhere along the affected circuits

Power surge damage: If lightning chooses any of the home’s electrical wiring as its primary or secondary path, the explosive surge can damage even non-electronic appliances that are connected. Even if most of the lightning current takes other paths to ground, the home’s electrical system will experience enough of a surge to cause potentially significant damage to anything connected to it, electronics in particular.

Shock wave damage: Another major source of damage from lightning. The shock waves that lightning create is what produces the thunder that we hear, and at close range, these waves can be destructive. Lightning can easily fracture concrete, brick, cinder block, and stone. Brick and stone chimneys are commonly damaged severely by lightning. Lightning’s shock waves can blow out plaster

Walls, shatter glass, create trenches in soil, and crack foundations. Shrapnel is a common secondary damage effect, with objects sometimes found embedded in walls!

What about a structure that has no wiring or pipes? It is rare for a house to be devoid of electrically conductive paths to ground, but they do exist – such as camping/fishing cabins. In that case, all bets are off on how the lightning will choose to reach the ground. Again, the lightning has just jumped across miles of non-conductive air, so the lack of wires or pipes won’t stop it from passing through a completely non-conductive structure. Such a structure does not provide a person with good lightning protection – so if you are caught in one during a storm, consider moving into a hard-topped automobile which provides a much better degree of safety.

Since we know the common paths lightning can follow in a house (wiring and pipes), the best thing to do is stay away from those paths as best as possible during a storm. Avoid direct contact this includes taking a shower or bath, washing hands, doing dishes, typing on a computer, playing video games, and using a wired phone, tool, or appliance. Avoid metal framed windows Wireless devices are safe to use (cell phones, cordless phones, remotes, etc.)

Avoid direct skin contact with earth as lightning current can travel through soil and across wet/damp concrete. Wear shoes if walking in a basement, garage, or patio.