FORT MYERS, Fla. — A house in Whiskey Creek is a total loss after a bolt of lightning struck its roof and started a fire. Neighbors said it was around 4:30 Monday afternoon when the lightning hit, startling the entire neighborhood.
“Just it came down and covered this whole area. It just descended over. It was unbelievable.” said John Lampman, who lives right next door to the home on Medoc Lane.
He heard the bolt strike, but fortunately, no one was home at the time, as the owner was in the hospital.
On Monday, the owner sent John Fuentes, an Insurance Adjuster, to his house to check out the damage.
“We’re here to make sure their insurance company is kept honest, that’s the nicest way to say it. We are going to get them what they need.” Fuentes said.
For Fuentes, lightning is a seasonal hazard in Southwest Florida, but it’s not often it does enough damage to make a house unlivable.
“I think fire losses are frequent, Fort Myers is the capital of lightning strikes. It’s pretty common here.” he said.
Experts say the best way to protect your home is to have a lightning rod installed on the roof. That way if it does strike, it wont start a fire like it did in Whiskey Creek. It’s also important to make sure you have an insurer you can trust if the unthinkable happens.
“My advice is to contact someone to protect you, have your interest, and guide you through the process so you come out okay.” Fuentes said.
Online you can find a number of companies that you can contact to have come out and protect your home from lightning. As for the home itself, it’s going to be a while and take significant repairs before its livable again.
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