Living in a storm-prone coastal area, the Sparks family faced over $121,000 in repair costs from lightning damage, despite standard surge protections. After two costly incidents, they sought a more comprehensive solution with EMP Defense’s CMCE units. Since installation, their home has remained untouched by lightning strikes, even during intense storms. This case highlights the immense value of investing in advanced lightning protection—not only to prevent damage but also to avoid the staggering expenses that can come with each strike. Read more to see how CMCE technology offers unmatched safety and financial peace of mind.

According to industry reports, the cost of downtime for data centers can reach as much as $9,000 per minute. This includes not just repair costs but also lost revenue, penalties, and damage to reputation. Downtime can also affect service level agreements (SLAs), leading to further financial repercussions. Even a short outage caused by lightning can result in millions of dollars in losses, especially for facilities supporting critical infrastructure like banking, government services, and cloud storage.

Heat lightning is a phenomenon many of us have experienced on warm summer nights—distant flashes of lightning in the sky, yet without the accompanying rumble of thunder. It is often misunderstood, but what’s commonly referred to as "heat lightning" is actually regular lightning from a storm too far away for the sound to travel to the observer. While heat lightning itself isn’t a direct threat, it signals an active storm nearby, posing potential danger to anyone within striking distance. In areas prone to thunderstorms, understanding heat lightning and the risks of nearby storms is vital. Implementing lightning protection systems, such as CMCE devices, is crucial for safeguarding property and lives.

According to recent studies, boats—especially those with tall masts like sailboats—are highly susceptible to lightning strikes, with a reported 155% greater chance of being hit compared to powerboats.​ Lightning can cause catastrophic damage to boats, ranging from physical destruction to total loss of electronic systems. When a boat becomes the path for a lightning strike, the energy—up to 30,000 amps—travels through its conductive structures, such as the mast, rigging, and even through the hull. This can lead to structural fractures, blown electronics, and equipment failures​.

Between 2017 and 2023, the average cost per lightning-related insurance claim increased significantly, reflecting the growing severity of these incidents. In 2020, for example, the average cost per claim peaked at $28,885, underscoring the financial toll that even a single lightning strike can impose on a homeowner​ (III). Furthermore, the emotional stress and disruption caused by these events, including temporary displacement during repairs, can be overwhelming for families.

Cell Towers are inherently susceptible to lightning strikes due to their height and isolated locations. Lightning strikes can have devastating effects on these structures, disrupting services, causing significant damage, and posing serious safety risks. In this blog, we will explore the various impacts of lightning strikes on cell towers, examine the financial and technical challenges they pose, and discuss advanced solutions for mitigating these risks.

In oil storage facilities, the threat of lightning strikes is an ever-present concern that cannot be overlooked. These colossal tanks, housing valuable and flammable resources, are susceptible to direct lightning strikes and the destructive consequences of nearby strikes.

There is a difference between lightning protection and lightning suppression. These two strategies involve different approaches to mitigating the risks associated with lightning strikes. Lightning protection systems are designed to minimize the damage caused by a lightning strike by providing a safe path for the lightning current to follow. The primary goal of lightning protection is to prevent lightning from causing harm to structures, people, and equipment.