Lightning: Impacts
Lightning strikes are capable of causing intense localized damage, as well as loss of life. In contrast to other hazards such as tornadoes and floods, however, they normally do not cause widespread disruptions within a community. Fire, structural damage to buildings, and damage to electronic devices are common types of damage. An estimated five percent of all homeowners' insurance claims are related to lightning damage (Holle et al., 1996). Farmers face these same threats plus the threat to livestock. In stormy weather, livestock frequently gather under trees to seek shelter or are trapped in barns where a lightning strike can destroy an entire herd. The majority of lightning strike casualties are injuries. Only about 20 percent are deaths. Though most people survive to tell their tales, chronic injuries, most frequently related to the nervous system, are commonly reported. Short-term memory, information processing capabilities, and personality changes are often documented. Other effects include intense headaches, nausea and vomiting, difficulty sleeping, and even seizure-like activity (Cooper, 2001).
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