A sign on a barn in Holmes County, Ohio, advertises lightning rods. “Call Dr. Boom,” urges the roadside ad.

Once, nearly all houses and barns were equipped with lightning rods, examples of which can be highly ornamental and sought after by today’s antique collectors. Dr. Boom still makes a living selling the protective devices to folks who fear Mother Nature’s destructive power, but most modern homes are grounded at the meter.

Lightning is a natural phenomenon that we all have seen and suffered. Most Buckeye REC members have experienced the effects of lightning bolts through interruption of their electric service.

Despite the co-op’s best efforts, we cannot completely shield lines, poles, substations, and radio equipment from these airborne bolts of energy. Lightning protection can only reduce – but not eliminate – the risk of power outages and damage. You might say that electric utilities have always struggled and come out second best against lightning.

No wonder. Humans can’t out-run lightning bolts, which travel at speeds up to 100,000 mph. The 50,000-degree F. temperature of lightning fuses sand into glass. The length of a bolt determines its voltage; consequently, a 1,000-ft.-long finger of lightning can produce 1 billion volts.

Is it any wonder that lightning plays havoc with the flow of electricity over utility lines?

Sometimes, the extent of damage awes even industry veterans.

When a lightning bolt struck BREC’s Pedro F-6 radio repeater this summer, the station was blasted off the air. Operations Manager Marvin Ours had no inkling that it would have to be entirely rebuilt.

“We’ve ordered all new equipment,” Ours revealed. “Everything was fried, and the antenna mast looked like a piece of shredded bamboo.”

The Windsor radio repeater was knocked out last summer.

“We had protection in the stations, but these were direct strikes,” said Ours. “With a direct strike, there is not much you can do.”

Lightning is an electrical discharge within clouds or between ground and the clouds. Because it is a form of energy transfer between positive and negative electric fields, trees, buildings, and power lines are susceptible to strikes.

Even the heavy duty protective devices on co-op lines can’t withstand a direct blast from lightning.

“Every quarter mile, we have lightning arrestors on our lines. Every piece of equipment is protected, including what’s inside the substations. But, lightning is so powerful that it’s hard to prevent service interruptions. The system is designed to isolate problems by dropping fuses. This limits the affected area and, hopefully, the number of people without power, but the damage can still be severe when a lightning bolt hits a piece of our equipment.”

Lightning also makes the work of linemen more dangerous, according to Ours.

“Our guys get out and work in the storms. Every one of us has a story to tell about lightning hitting nearby, but it comes with the job,” he said.

Lightning kills more people in the United States every year than poisonous snake or spider bites. In fact, in recent years there has been an alarming upward trend in lightning deaths. According to NOAA National Weather Service, over 60 Americans are killed annually by lightning and hundreds are injured.

Ohio ranks in the top 10 states for lightning deaths. People have been struck by lightning at athletic fields, golf courses, while mowing lawns, fishing, wherever outdoor activities might take place.

To avoid attracting lightning, remember that there is no safe place out-of-doors when a thunderstorm is near. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be hit.

While indoors, remember to avoid contact with electrical equipment, including telephones. Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the storm has passed.