Hurricanes often make more headlines during the summer and fall, but the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Research Center cautions homeowners not to underestimate the destructive force of thunderstorms. Such storms occur far more often and impact more people and homes in the U.S. than hurricanes. 

According to the National Weather Service, every thunderstorm produces lightning. Here are some tips for protecting your home from lightning damage: 

• Use a whole-house or building-surge protector along with localized surge protectors for electronic equipment power cords and any telephone, cable or satellite TV lines. 
• Know the difference between a surge protector and a power strip: A power strip plugs into a wall outlet and allows you to plug in multiple electronic devices; it will not protect equipment from electrical damage. A surge protector gives the ability to plug in multiple electronic devices and protects them from a power spike. 
• Make sure you are using a reliable surge protector: IBHS cautions against using an inexpensive surge protector to protect an expensive piece of equipment. For $25 or more, you can provide much better protection. 
• Ensure the surge protector has been tested to UL 1449 and has an indicator light to ensure it’s working. 
• Have a licensed electrician or home or building inspector review the power, telephone, electrical and TV connections to your home to make sure you have adequate grounding of the power line connection and your power distribution panel. 

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is among the founding organizations of IBHS, which operates a state-of-the-art, multi-risk applied research and training facility in Chester County, South Carolina. The facility was created to significantly advance building science by enabling researchers to more fully and accurately evaluate various residential and commercial construction materials and systems.