Does insurance cover lightning damage?
Short answer. Yes. Lightning is a covered cause on every standard homeowners policy, including damage to the roof, chimney, attic framing, wiring and appliances, and any fire it starts. Your normal deductible applies, and the insurer may check lightning strike records for your address and date.
What lightning does to a roof
- Holes blown through shingles and decking where the strike entered
- Scorched or melted shingles along the path the current took
- Shattered chimney masonry or a cracked flue liner
- Split rafters and charred framing in the attic
- Damaged metal such as vents, flashing and gutters that conducted the current
- Fire, which can smolder in insulation for hours before it shows
Lightning can also travel through wiring and plumbing, damaging electrical panels, HVAC controls, garage door openers and electronics.
How insurers verify it
Adjusters often pull lightning detection data for the address and storm date. Burn marks, an electrician's written report and a tree with a fresh strike scar nearby all support the claim. Electronics that failed on the same day should be listed, but keep them for the adjuster to see.
Georgia context
Georgia gets frequent summer thunderstorms, and homes on ridges or with tall chimneys and trees nearby are struck more often. A tree that lightning splits and drops onto the roof is handled as a covered falling object.
Documenting the roof side
- Photograph the entry point from the ground and the attic.
- Check the attic for scorching and the smell of burning.
- Get a roofer to inspect decking and flashing near the strike.
- File promptly with the storm date.
See date of loss, how to file and emergency tarping.