Lighting Strike Too Close For Comfort

Late yesterday, we had storms roll in from the southwest.   I’ve always been terrified of bad weather.  We had have SEVERE lighting in the Gainesville area this entire summer and yesterday was a very close call for us.

The first strike of lighting, and it made me jump up off the couch, and it was NOT raining yet.   My husband was worried where it hit and walked out the front door to the side of our front walkway.    Then strike #2 hit and his hair stood straight up and his right ear popped loud and the whole house was a big blue flash.  He came running back in the house holding his ear and his heart was pounding.  It was the closest lighting strike I have ever witnessed.    Then it started pouring, and it stormed for an hour and got dark.

Thank God that the lightning hit our big oak tree and NOT my husband or the house.  Yes, we said prayers.

After it stopped we got the spot light out to look at the huge oak tree that was hit…..and this morning we took photos and called an arborist.

There was a section of the tree where bark just exploded off the tree and we found big pieces over 50 feet from the tree.  The tree expert said there is nothing we can do but “WAIT” to see how much damage the electricity did to the tree, it’s root system, and any other trees in the yard.

This whole thing just confirms why I am so scared of lightning and thunder, and it’s 100% proof that lightning does NOT hit the tallest thing in the area.  I don’t want to mess with mother nature.

And Thank you to Brad Batie, certified Arborist of Batie’s Tree Service, as he is our tree Doctor……and may have to remove this tree if it does not survive the lighting strike.