On Tuesday, Aug. 6, two houses in East Hampton were damaged by a lightning strike, sending one occupant to the hospital. The following thunderclap was said to be so loud it shook houses miles away.
These houses, which are next door to each other and were both occupied during the occurrence, stand at 85 and 93 Three Mile Harbor Road, across the street from the Neighborhood House. Duane Forrester, East Hampton’s Fire Department Chief, believed the lightning “may have struck the ground and traveled up to the houses” through infrastructure underground, which could include wiring for sprinkler systems and an invisible dog fence.
The strike “blew some of the wires through the walls, through the Sheetrock” at 93 Three Mile Harbor Road. The house’s occupant was taken via ambulance to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. East Hampton ambulance chief Mary Mott could not provide details about the individual’s condition, and Chief Forrester noted that the person may have been working at a computer located close to a socket during the time of the strike.
Chief Forrester elaborated that as firefighters investigated number 93, “We pulled down some of the fascia on the roof to make sure that we didn’t miss anything. We also checked other houses on either side of these two, just to make sure no other structures were affected.”
He explained that the damage to 85 Three Mile Harbor Road was minimal,though the strike did blow a satellite dish off the roof. “It’s just gone. We have no idea where it is.” According to the chief, it likewise blew the face off an electrical box for a newly installed alternative/innovative septic system.
Forrester stated, “We’ve had lightning strikes before, and it will hit a point in the house and cause a small fire, but this is kind of a rarity, where we’ve had two houses affected.”
He also expressed the special precautions necessary when responding to calls during electrical storms. “We don’t raise the ladder on our ladder truck,” which would act like a giant lightning rod, and “we don’t put people on roofs.”
The fire department turned the scene over to the town fire marshal for investigation at around 6:30 Tuesday evening after discovering no further issues. As of press time, the fire marshal’s office could not provide any additional information.
Tuesday’s severe weather was only part of a first wave expected to cause flash flooding, damaging winds, and heavy rain across New York State, stretching from the mid-Hudson area to New York City and Long Island. In response, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office warned people Tuesday to prepare for potential flooding, power outages, and transportation disruptions from Tuesday into Thursday, as some areas are set to “see up to five inches of rain and rainfall rates up to three inches per hour.”
As Tropical Cyclone Debby moves into the area, more heavy rain is possible going into Saturday. The governor’s office shared safety tips in an alert sent out Tuesday to bear in mind during thunderstorms. The primary warning: “If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.” If caught in this scenario, take shelter in a sturdy building if possible; if not, seek cover in a hard-top vehicle with the windows rolled up.
Governor Hochul’s office also reminded people, given Tuesday’s strike in East Hampton, that “telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity” and that appliances should be unplugged during electrical storms.
It’s also worth remembering to avoid bathing or showering during an electrical storm; additionally, air-conditioning systems should be turned off as “power surges from lightning can overload compressors.”
If you find yourself unable to take shelter outside, it’s best to locate a low area far from conductive structures like fences, trees, or poles. In the woods, however, it may be best to shelter beneath short trees.
Governor Hochul’s office finally stated, “If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stands on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet; place your hands on your knees with your head between them; make yourself the smallest target possible, and minimize your contact with the ground.”
Should people find themselves in a flash flood, they should not try to drive to safety, as “most flash flooding deaths occur in automobiles.” Flooded roads should be avoided when possible, as the governor’s office reminds people to “not underestimate the power of fast-moving water. Two feet of fast-moving flood water will float your car, and water moving at two miles per hour can sweep cars off a road or bridge.” If you are driving and the water starts to rise around you rapidly, promptly leave the vehicle.
