• Nearly 80% of all lightning actually occurs between clouds. The only significant effect of inter-cloud strikes are the audible crackles and bangs heard on car radios and TV’s as interference.
• As many as 42 repeat strokes have been recorded forming one discharge. These repeated strikes are what give lightning its flickering effect with each strike taking slightly different paths.
• Each year we have about 307,000 claims from lightning, amounting to loss reimbursements of some $332 million. – State Farm Insurance Co.
• Five percent of all insurance claims are lightning-related, amounting to over $1 billion per year. – Insurance Information Institute, NY, Press Release 1989.
• Even where no obvious lightning damage has occurred, the life of electronic equipment can be significantly reduced following a lightning surge. Total equipment failure may not take place immediately and equipment can sometimes continue operating with only partial functionality for months before a complete breakdown finally happens.
• Lightning is one of the leading weather-related cause of deaths and injuries. Eighty five percent of lightning victims are children and men aged 10 to 35 engaged in recreation or work. Twenty percent of victims die and 70% of survivors suffer serious long term after effects.
• Psychological effects of lightning incidents include memory loss, depression, headaches, confusion and inability to work.
• Lightning can spread out some 60 ft. Upon striking earth's surface. Radial horizontal arcing has been measured at least 20 m. from the point where lightning enters the earth.