![]() If you’re still hanging on to a landline for your security system, the great news is that reputable security system companies now provide a number of other options that do not require the use of a landline.Ī wireless security system can offer significant advantages over a traditional landline system. But as Americans have abandoned landlines en masse, these types of injuries have grown increasingly rare. ![]() No, it’s not just an urban legend electricity really can travel through phone lines. Some of the few indoor injuries that still occur happen while talking on the telephone. Increasing urbanization as well as modernization of buildings and vehicles mean fewer people in harm’s way. Lightning-related injuries and deaths are very rare in the US compared to just a few decades ago. Our Companies Are Backed by the Best Pick Guarantee. A small backup generator wouldn’t hurt either. The loss of power is one of those things that often goes hand-in-hand with a bad storm, so it’s a great idea to have a ready supply of candles, flashlights, batteries, hand-crank chargers, and the like. Not even their big brothers, heavy-duty uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), are capable of dealing with the full power generated by lightning.įinally, almost everybody has experienced a storm that led to a power outage. You actually cannot count on regular surge protectors or power strips to keep your electronics safe. That’s its purpose, right? To protect from surges of electricity, AKA a lightning strike? ![]() You might think you’re safe if most of your electronics are plugged into a surge protector. Some people will unplug expensive electronics, but the downside to doing this is that you either have to be home when the storm hits, or you have to try to predict the severity of a coming storm. The best way to avoid this kind of damage is to unplug everything during a thunderstorm, but it’s unrealistic to expect most people to do that every time. Dealing with power surgesĭirect strikes to homes can cause power surges that ruin electrical systems and electronics. Make sure you have a functional fire extinguisher and homeowner’s insurance that covers lightning-related damage (including associated fires). If your home is struck, call the fire department without delay a potential fire’s location may not be obvious right away. For anyone keeping score, that’s several times hotter than the surface of the sun. Though short lived, bolts can reach temperatures of 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Be wary of firesįires are very common after lightning strikes. The protection these systems offer is not absolute, but they significantly reduce the risk of fire and structural damage by reducing the energy flowing through the structure itself. If lightning strikes, these systems are designed to help disperse the electrical energy into the ground and influence its path in a way that minimizes damage to the structure. They are typically part of lightning protection systems. Protecting Your Home From a Direct Strike Lightning protection systemsĮveryone has heard of lightning rods (also known as air terminals), but it may surprise you to learn that they don’t actually attract electricity. ![]() That is a much more sobering idea, and it likely understates the risk for areas with very frequent thunderstorms. I won’t bore you with the math, but the National Lightning Safety Institute estimates that 1 out of every 200 houses will be struck by lightning each year. In fact, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning while drowning than hit that jackpot. The chances of you being able to win the Powerball, quit your job, and join the ranks of the idle rich are far slimmer: 1 in 292 million. Estimates vary, but at worst, Americans have a one-in-a-million chance of being struck each year. Lightning strikes occur in the US about 25 million times per year. Here’s a hint: there’s a reason those Powerball jackpots get so big. Sure, both are life-changing events, but one is far more likely than the other. When thinking about near-impossible events, the chance of winning the lottery or being struck by lightning might come to mind. ![]()
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