Lightning strike damages Jefferson County home

At 6:30 a.m lightning struck a home in the Grant community of Jefferson County, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Lorina Morris says her husband saw the lightning strike her mothers home from the window of their house.

“In fact, he said ‘It hurt my eyes, it had to be at your mom’s house,” said Morris.

Morris’ mother, Lennie Hansen, said her son in law told her the truss of her house had been struck, creating a 5-by-2 foot hole.

“There was shingle and wiring all over the lawn,” said Hansen.

The strike was so powerful it blew out the lights and siding from the eve of the home. Inside the home, several electronics were also damaged. She said the control boxes to her sprinkler system and well water pump were both fried, as well as four TVs.

“It did several thousand dollars worth of damage to the roof, and to the electrical appliances that it burned,” said Hansen

According to the Insurance Information Institute, lightning caused $1 billion in home owners insurance losses last year. Also, in 2012, there were 151,000 insurance claims from lightning damage.