LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

Florida is Lightning Capitol of the U.S.

Florida is the lightning capitol of the United States. According to the NOAA, 33 people were killed and 234 injured annually during the period of 2004-2013. Although an average of 10 percent of those who suffer lightning strikes die, the remaining 90 percent often deal from long-term, serious symptoms.

The Weather Channel reports that:
• 25 million – Average U.S. cloud-to-ground lightning strikes per year
• 50,000 degrees (F) – Temperature that lightning can reach
• 1,800 – Average number of thunderstorms on earth at any given moment
• 100 – Number of times lightning hits earth per second
• 5-10 miles – Distance lightning can strike away from a thunderstorm
• The energy of a lightning bolt can exceed the power of a nuclear reactor
• Average lightning strike can light a 100-watt bulb for more than 3 months

As the saying goes, it is best to “go indoors when thunder roars.” Lightning is not only extremely dangerous to people, it can be brutal on the electric system. Here are a few tips to keep in mind this this storm season:
• Stay clear of downed power lines. They may still be energized and dangerous. Puddles of water contacting downed lines are just as dangerous. It is essential to call your power provider to report downed power lines. To contact LCEC, call 656-2300.
• Protect your sensitive electronics from power surges. LCEC customers are invited to learn more about our dual-stage protection called surgeSENSE by visiting https://www.lcec.net/my-home/products-and-services/surgesense.

For more information on downed power lines or surgeSENSE, visit www.lcec.net.