Each year, lightning strikes cause significant damage to properties across the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association NFPA, between 2007 and 2011, 22,600 annual fires were caused by lightning strikes, representing an average yearly expenditure of $451 million. The total damage caused to properties by lightning strikes is likely considerably higher. 
The state of Florida, known as the “Lightning Capital of the United States,” has a warm and humid climate that makes it especially prone to thunderstorms and lightning activity. According to data from the Insurance Information Institute, Florida ranks as one of the states with the highest lightning-related insurance claims. In 2019 alone, 5759 lightning-related insurance claims were reported in Florida, resulting in an estimated $65 million in property damage.
Although lightning-related damage does not receive as much attention as other weather-related disasters, its impact must be recognized. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), lightning strikes cause more deaths yearly in the United States than tornadoes, hurricanes, or floods.