The image above illustrates how the hubby and I spent 8 p.m. Wednesday through 2:30 a.m. today. When I snipped this WeatherBug lightning strike map shot about 12:30 a.m., in the preceding hour 11,653 bolts touched down.
As the heaviest part of the storm line moved over us, it felt like 11,000 were just outside our house.
Now I stay up late many, many nights. But not usually listening to lightning assault my neighborhood. Waiting for severe weather to pass takes a little more out of you than the usual 2 a.m. surfing to see what other folks thought of the long-anticipated Sawyer vs. Real Sawyer confrontation on Lost.
We were too busy calculating just how close the strikes were to relax, much less sleep. Apparently they were much too close if you go by the see flash, start counting, hear thunder distance measurement method. By that count, at least a few were just down the street and I swear one seemed to hit our driveway.
The flash made it look like every light in the house was on and no time — not an iota — passed before the thunderclap. There’s no apparent damage out there, but I know that sucker was close, way too close.
So until I get several more cups of coffee into my system, I won’t be up to speed today. I appreciate your understanding and patience.
Casualty damage tax help: For anyone who took a strike last night, and I’m sure some did, my condolences. Once you get the damage assessed and cleaned up and have contacted your insurance company, be sure to look into the possibility of some tax help.
Damages from a casualty loss — defined by the IRS as damage resulting from a sudden, unexpected or unusual event — can be deducted if you itemize. Now lightning is not that unusual, but when it blasts your home and starts a fire or blows out every appliance, that’s not, thankfully, an everyday occurrence.
Claiming a casualty loss does takes some extra filing work and it might not be a big tax break, but every little bit helps.
