Rhode Island couple narrowly escapes injury as lightning strikes home during storm

Publish date: 2024-05-28

CRANSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — Lightning hit a home in Rhode Island during a storm that swept Southern New England Wednesday.

The couple who lives there said they were just feet away when the bolt came through the kitchen window.

The family told WJAR they are still shaken up after fire officials confirmed their home had been struck.

We just heard a huge bang. It was like a bomb went off right inside the house," said Sandra Pastore. "All the lights went out. And I screamed because I've never heard such a horrible sound."

Pastore and her husband were watching TV in the living room when the bolt came crashing through their kitchen window.

I went to my kitchen and I smelled smoke. And that's when I saw like a hole in the floor with the tile come up, and you can smell it," she said.

She called 911, with dispatchers telling her to leave the house immediately.

Across Rhode Island, torrential rain, thunder, lightning and even hail was captured on camera throughout the storm.

With no injuries and minor damage, Pastore knows things could've gone differently.

Believe me, I'm starting to calm down now because at least I know that, you know, we were we weren't hurt," said Pastore.

Fire department recommended they stay elsewhere for the night while their circuit breakers are inspected.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: WJAR's Leanna Faulk contributed to this report.

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