Triple-I: Lightning Caused $1.04B in US Homeowners Claim Payouts in 2024; Frequency Drops 21.5% Year-Over-Year

Business Wire

Florida, Texas and California Top States for Lightning Losses

MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
U.S. insurers paid $1.04 billion in lightning-related homeowners insurance claims in 2024, a 16.5% decrease from the $1.24 billion paid out in 2023, according to the latest figures from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

The total number of lightning-caused claims also fell significantly, down 21.5% to 55,537 in 2024, the lowest number of claims since before 2017. More than half of all claims came from the top 10 states, with Florida, Texas and California leading the nation.

“Fewer claims and a decline in severity indicate increased awareness, and improved mitigation,” said Triple-I CEO Sean Kevelighan. “Nonetheless, lightning remains a significant threat to property and safety, particularly during storm season.”

Based on national insurance claims data compiled to coincide with National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 22-28, 2025), the Triple-I estimated that:

In 2024, U.S. lightning–caused claims decreased by 21.5% to 55,537 (from 70,787 in 2023), with the top 10 states by number of claims contributing to more than half of the total.
National claim value decreased 16.5% (from $1.24 billion) to $1.04 billion.
While the national average cost per claim was $18,641, the average per claim was $38,558 in Texas.

“Lightning remains a costly and unpredictable threat, with ground surges causing nearly half of all claims,” said Michal Brower of State Farm. “These events can cause extensive damage to electrical systems, appliances and even structural issues. The damage underscores the critical need for homeowners to be aware of the risks, invest in protective measures, and stay prepared, especially in high-risk regions where lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging.”

State Farm is the largest writer of homeowners insurance in the U.S., with direct premiums written of $31.46 billion in 2024.

Homeowners Insurance Claims and Payout for Lightning Losses, 2017-2024

Year	Value of claims ($ millions)	Number of claims	Average cost per claim
2017	$916.61	85,020	$10,781
2018	908.93	77,898	11,668
2019	920.05	76,860	11,971
2020	2,066.74	71,551	28,885
2021	1,313.06	60,851	21,578
2022	950.22	62,189	15,280
2023	1,239.72	70,787	17,513
2024	1,035.28	55,537	18,641
Percent change
2024 - 2023	-16.5%	-21.5%	6.4%
2024 - 2017	12.9%	-34.7%	72.9%
Source: Insurance Information Institute, State Farm®.

State Rankings

Not surprisingly, Florida – the state which incurs the most thunderstorms annually – remained the top state for the number of lightning claims in 2024, with 4,780. However, Texas had the highest average cost per claim at $38,558.

Top 10 States for Homeowners Insurance Lightning Losses by Number of Claims, 2024

Rank	State	Value of claims	Number of claims	Average cost per claim
1	Florida	$113,218,813	4,780	$23,686
2	Texas	168,461,044	4,369	38,558
3	California	75,028,400	4,005	18,734
4	Georgia	48,546,426	3,376	14,380
5	North Carolina	30,299,433	2,574	11,771
6	Louisiana	34,306,009	2,283	15,027
7	Alabama	36,617,416	2,175	16,836
8	New York	34,109,020	1,937	17,609
9	Pennsylvania	15,777,521	1,792	8,804
10	Illinois	24,068,318	1,626	14,802
	Top 10 States	$580,432,401	28,917	$20,072
Source: Insurance Information Institute, State Farm®.

Damage caused by lightning, such as fire, is covered by standard homeowners, condo, renters and business insurance policies. Some homeowners policies provide coverage for power surges that are the direct result of a lightning strike.

The Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) noted that lightning strikes can occur at an astonishing 100 times per second.

“Whether it’s a family home or a mission-critical facility, no property is immune to lightning," said Tim Harger, executive director at LPI, whose organization provides resources for the design, installation and inspection of lightning protection systems. “The most effective time to prevent lightning damage is before a storm. A lightning risk assessment paired with a professionally installed protection system can make all the difference in keeping people safe and operations uninterrupted.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Lightning Protection Institute

NOAA/National Weather Service

Small Business Administration

About the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I)

Since 1960, the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) has been the trusted voice of risk and insurance, delivering unique, data-driven insights to educate, elevate, and connect consumers, industry professionals, policymakers, and the media. An affiliate of The Institutes, Triple-I represents a diverse membership accounting for nearly 50% of all U.S. property/casualty premiums written. Our members include mutual and stock companies, personal and commercial lines, primary insurers, and reinsurers – serving regional, national, and global markets.

About The Institutes

The Institutes® are a not-for-profit comprised of diverse affiliates that educate, elevate, and connect people in the essential disciplines of risk management and insurance. Through products and services offered by The Institutes and nearly 20 affiliated business units, people and organizations are empowered to help those in need with a focus on understanding, predicting, and preventing losses to create a more resilient world.