Date of the incident:
July, 2005
What kind of weather event was this?
Severe Electrical Storm
What happened?
On a hot summer afternoon, a thunderstorm suddenly appeared in a cell directly over us according to the weather map I checked that day. It was the most intense, violent thunderstorm I've ever seen, with lightning strikes every few seconds for a short while.The storm blew off to the North east as quickly as it arose, and my husband, son and I were sitting in the family room watching the black cloud leaving the area. The storm had been over approximately 10 minutes, and the cloud was barely visible now over the tree line. I was sitting on a sofa across from the double window. The blinds were open, and I was commenting on the storm.
Suddenly, I was struck by lightning! Lightning struck a metal building in my back yard, and flashed over through the window. I was struck in the face, my eyes, right in front of my husband and young son. I actually looked up and saw it for a split second coming toward me as an orange snake-like streak and then I went "white" blind. Amazingly, I did not suffer any obvious injuries although 6 months later, it was determined that I have suffered some optical nerve damage.
My husband was as 'shocked' as I was that I was even alive! He said that what appeared to be a thick blue flashlight beam/laser beam turned on in my face, that I sat up really rigid and wide-eyed and arched back onto the couch with my arms stretched out to the sides. And then, I relaxed when the light went off and I looked at him and grinned! He said I then asked, "What did you just see?". He was just waiting for me to fall off the couch dead, but instead, I just grinned.
I have no recollection of this part, the next thing I remember was him asking me if I was alright. Other than the eye damage and a slight headache and aversion to bright light for the next four days, I did not suffer any physical damage. It was truly miraculous! The lightning did do some property damage though: my husband said he saw it "leap over" to the cable outlet, burning it up, and then it went into the electrical box and burned up 4 breakers, setting off the fire alarms throughout the house.
It was discovered a week later after our cable, though repaired was still fuzzy, that the lightning evidently had traveled through the cable line and had "exploded" out of the ground at the base of the post outdoors. There was a pile of dirt blown up and out of the hole, and the line was burned and melted on the outside.
What has this experience taught you?
I have a new found respect for lightning and storms, and make sure that I am indoors and away from windows when they come through.
What was the hardest part of surviving this event?
The feeling that no one believed me (including my doctor, but the eye doctor did believe me). None of my friends or family believed it at all, until my husband and son corroborated the story. I think everyone expected that I should have been hurt FAR worse than I was, me included, but for whatever reason, I wasn't. I guess it was almost unbelievable. My husband and son witnessed it, so at least I have been comforted by the fact that someone else saw it, and I wasn't just dreaming or something.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
I would have stayed away from the windows; I would have seen a doctor immediately rather than decide that I was "ok".
Did you lose anything, and if so, what did you lose?
Some eyesight, though minor. It will, however, get worse in time.
Any other details you would like to share?
Lightningstrike.org had the most helpful information and put me directly in contact with a doctor in Ohio who specializes in lightning strike injuries. She answered my letter personally, although I know she is quite busy, and urged me to see an eye doctor.I am also intrigued by the difference in what I saw coming towards me (an orange, snake-like streak of light) as opposed to what my husband and son saw (a large blue flashlight/laser beam). I wonder why the difference?
The material submitted above adheres to the following statement for user submitted content - I certify that I am the author or sole owner of the material I am submitting to About.com. About.com and its licensees may reproduce, distribute, publish, display, edit, modify, create derivative works and otherwise use the material for any purpose in any form and on any media. I agree to indemnify About.com for all damages and expenses that may be incurred in connection with the material. For more information, please see our user agreement.
