SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – “It’s just a giant flash of lightning, and then a giant boom, and now all we smell is like weird burning.”
Those were the words of a resident calling 911 after lightning struck an apartment complex on Vineridge Run in Altamonte Springs on July 17. The family inside didn’t know what was on fire — only that something was very wrong.
A dispatcher quickly took charge.
“Should I take everyone outside like my wife and kids?” the resident asked.
“Yes, if possible just in case there is a hazard. We just want to make sure you guys are safe,” the dispatcher responded.
It turned out to be the right call. The Seminole County Fire Department says lightning is believed to have traveled through the building’s electrical system and ignited a fire behind a dryer. A working fire sprinkler system helped contain the flames until firefighters arrived, preventing the fire from spreading. No injuries were reported.
Seminole County firefighters have responded to more than a dozen lightning-related calls so far this year — and summer is far from over.
One storm, one day — and a spike in calls
The Seminole County Fire Department posted on Facebook that the storms that day resulted in a “significant increase in calls.”
That was just one day — one storm.
An apartment complex in Windermere was condemned after lightning presumably struck the building earlier this month. A home in Sanford was destroyed last year — part of a pattern of lightning-related damage that has kept Seminole County firefighters busy throughout the summer season.
Florida leads nation in lightning damage claims
Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute says the numbers tell a striking story. U.S. insurers paid out $1.65 billion in lightning-related property damage claims in 2025 — a 59% increase over the previous year, driven largely by inflation and rising rebuilding and repair costs.
“The average cost per claim last year surged 42.8%,” Friedlander said, noting that works out to an average of $26,616 per claim nationwide.
Florida led the nation. The state recorded 5,136 property damage claims directly related to lightning last year, totaling $186 million in insured damage.
“Florida had more lightning damage property claims than any other state,” Friedlander said. “And that typically is common. We see that year after year because there’s so many lightning related storms.”
Friedlander says 2026 has already been especially active.
“It’s been a very active 2026 year to date in terms of lightning caused damage in Florida,” he said.
How to protect your home from lightning damage
Experts say homeowners and renters have several options to reduce their risk — and some steps can be taken immediately.
Friedlander recommends starting with a lightning protection system installed by a professional — a rooftop network of lightning rods connected to conductors that safely direct the energy of a strike into the ground.
“There are lightning protection systems that homeowners can have installed,” he said. “It is basically grounding your home — and you should leave it up to the professionals to do this.”
Roszell Gadson, a corporate communications specialist with State Farm, echoed that advice and offered practical options at every price point.
“Some homeowners may actually take the steps of installing a lightning rod on top of their home or outlying structure,” Gadson said. “Others may simply talk to an electrician about a whole home surge protection system that can protect all of the outlets in your home in case there’s a power surge or lightning strike.”
For a quick, low-cost option, Gadson says the solution may be as simple as a trip to the hardware store.
“One thing that you can go out and do today, right now, is to go to your local hardware store and purchase some individual surge protectors and make sure that they are attached to your most important and most expensive appliances, home workout equipment, laptops and other electronic equipment,” he said.
Both experts also recommend unplugging electronics before leaving home when storms are in the forecast.
“Very few people will take the step of unplugging their appliances and their equipment before they leave home,” Gadson said. “If you’re going to be leaving your home for any amount of time, consider unplugging some of those things to make sure that they are not subject to a storm that may occur when you’re not there to respond and react to it.”
Friedlander adds that any surge protector purchased should be rated by Underwriters Laboratories and come with a guarantee for added financial protection.
What your insurance policy covers
The good news, both experts say, is that most Floridians already have coverage they may need in case of an emergency — and that applies to renters, too.
“Big picture is with a standard home, condo or renter’s policy. You do have insurance protection for this loss,” Friedlander said. “We’ve seen in many cases these losses are catastrophic losses, meaning the home is now beyond repair.”
Gadson emphasized that renters shouldn’t assume they’re off the hook.
“It’s very important that not just homeowners listen to this, but also people who are renting apartments and renting homes,” he said. “Having a renters policy will help to protect your property inside of your apartment or home.”
Gadson also urged policyholders to review their coverage regularly — especially after purchasing new electronics or appliances.
“Make sure that you go out and talk to your insurance agent to make sure that you have the proper coverage,” he said. “Make sure that you talk to your agent and understand the deductible that you’ve chosen, because there may be some out-of-pocket cost applied to that loss.”
Friedlander recommends an annual policy checkup to ensure dwelling coverage reflects current repair and replacement costs — and to confirm possession coverage and additional living expenses coverage are adequate in case a home becomes unlivable after a strike.
What to do if lightning strikes your home
The Seminole County Fire Department says if you suspect lightning has damaged your property or notice smoke, the smell of burning or other signs of fire, leave immediately and call 911.
The power staying on after the Vineridge Run strike made it even harder for the family to immediately assess the danger — a reminder that the signs of a lightning-caused fire aren’t always obvious. When in doubt, get out and call for help.