Lightning struck house. Where to start?

[LeanMachine]

Well I am working out of town this week and my wife called me yesterday morning to let me know that she thought lightning had struck our house, the hot water heater was spraying water, and the power was out. Don't you just love phone calls like that when you are 250 miles from home? I will not be home until this evening so I have not had a chance to assess the situation first hand. I don't know what blew on the water heater but it was at the end of its life expectancy anyways. That is not a big deal. However, the house has no power today. I am assuming the neighbors have power but have not had my wife confirm that yet. She flipped all the breakers this morning and still nothing.

So when I get home, where should I start assessing the situation? Confirm power to box? If no power to box then I guess it is the power companies problem and I will call them. Assuming power to box, then what? What gives way when lightning strikes a house or near it? We have very large trees surrounding our house and the power pole is about 20-30 feet from house. Some of the trees are directly beside the house and hanging over it. Would it be possible for lightning to still strike the house?

It is a real treat to work out of town all week and then go home to a disaster.

[AtTheWall]

Call the insurance company! Get them rolling on it.

[manwitaplan]

Hang in there man it could of been a worse call. I hate those calls as well.

I am no help on what to check but I know there a bunch of electricians on here that can provide an answer.

Did she get the water turned off? Wish I was closer I would of helped you out.

Keep us posted.

[Txjourneyman]

Call me when you get in if you want help with anything, particularly the electric problems.
Greg 903-292-7014

[rjet]

Call the insurance company! Get them rolling on it.

I had the same happen to me quite a few years back and initially had minor damage, not enough to justify calling insurance due to deductable. In time different appliances started going out from this strike and was too late to get insurance involved. They informed me if it happens again to let them know asap and those items would be covered under that strike.

[LeanMachine]

Greg I will definitely give you a shout if it is worse than I hope. Thanks man.

Yes the water and gas are off. Luckily we have some great neighbors that are happy to help.

I really hope that it is not bad enough to have to go the insurance route. We just finished up a claim from when the house was broken into in January!

[LeanMachine]

If we do have to involve insurance, what are they looking for when they come out? I assume they will send an adjuster.

[Johnny Dangerr]

This happened to a friend and it was 40K in damages. It killed the fish in his fishtank.
Guess it was a direct hit......

[quackaholic1]

Lightening stuck our house a few years ago. All electrical appliances that were plugged in it were toast. The lightening also blew nails out of the ceiling and walls. Good luck... Hope it is not as bad as you think. God Bless, Joe

[Txjourneyman]

Call the Co-op and see if they can ping your meter.

[Slew]

They (insurance company) will want you to have an electrician look at the house to determine what happened and what will fix it and you will probably have to have any big ticket items that were damaged by the strike inspected for repair ability Smaller items probably just list on an inventory form. I would figure out what happened and what all was wrong before I involved my insurance company though. Doubtful they send anybody out unless the water heater damaged the flooring.