What happens when lightning strikes a house?

If your home ever gets struck by lightning, you will hear a very loud, powerful boom that might shake your entire house. Many homes are built to withstand lightning strikes without succumbing to major damage. read more

AT RIGHT: Lightning strikes a tree and house in Charleston, West Virginia in 1998. Lightning passing through a house will often 'branch' and utilize more than one path to ground at a time. It can also jump through the air from one conductive path to another in what is called a side flash. read more

When lightning strikes a house, it can travel in any number of directions. Roofs often take a major hit, and metal gutters are especially susceptible, too. The surge usually takes the path of least resistance, which means electricity can run throughout all of the wiring and even plumbing in your home. read more