Uh-oh, I’ve just had a lightning hit! What do I do now?
This is certainly a scary situation that is one of helplessness and frustration! Mother Nature strikes with tremendous power and great unpredictability especially here in Broward and Palm Beach County. Lightning travels very fast and takes its own path of destruction, ravaging everything in its path!
Here are 2 checklists- one for the property owner and one for the electrician:
The Homeowner:
- Call 911 if you have any burning smell or worse yet, flames, and get out to a safe place.
- Take pictures of all visible damage.
- Check your electrical panels for any tripped breakers.
- If you have any tripped breakers, leave them off until a qualified electrician checks the circuits.
- Test all your appliances to make sure that they are still working properly. Document all damages.
- Call a licensed electrician to evaluate your entire electrical system and get a full report on all findings.
- If warranted, contact your insurance company or an insurance adjuster.
The Electrician
- Review the above information with the property owner.
- Check out those areas fully.
- Open up the main service equipment and inspect for any damages. Document everything.
- Check the grounding electrode system.
- Open up the interior circuit breaker panel and inspect for any damages.
- Inspect the exterior of the property for any visual damages.
- Provide the property owner with a written report and estimate on any repairs needed.
Finally, make sure you have a surge protection system and a solid grounding electrode system. A licensed electrician can advise you on this.
As always, we are your local Coral Springs electrician and we’re at your service 24/7. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to servicing all of your electrical needs in the future.
