After a single lightning bolt killed their five large palm trees, longtime Melbourne Beach residents Bob and Hedy von Achen have a new respect for the deadly power of lightning.
The lightning strike at about 4:30 p.m. on June 19 on Mar-Len Drive just missed endangering their landscaping crew that had been warned by a colleague about the impending storm, designated as severe by the National Weather Service.
The strike blew the bark off the tallest of five Washingtonian palm trees that Hedy von Achen had planted as small landscaping plants about 25 years ago. The couple noticed that after the strike, all the trees in the grouping had died. They had the trees removed July 6.
Avid gardeners with extensive landscaping in both front and back — including two other, even taller palms in the back – the von Achens admit to staying out long after hearing thunder and seeing lightning in the distance that day. Their home is located on the west side of SR A1A about 750 feet from the beach.
“We had heard about the fatalities on the beach over the years but we didn’t think it was a problem. I would hear thunder and see lightning but I wouldn’t go in until it started raining,’’ Bob von Achen said. “Now, we’re going in earlier.”
According to statistics compiled by the National Weather Service, Florida is the country’s lightning capital, with an average of nine lightning deaths annually for a total of 449 deaths and 1,788 injuries in the period from 1959-2007. With 25 deaths total during that time period, Brevard is the second deadliest Florida county behind Orange County with 76 lightning deaths.
Brevard County’s most recent lightning fatality occurred July 28, 2017, at 5:25 p.m. just north of Satellite Beach, when two men were struck as they walked with a group.
Before that, the National Weather Service database lists the last fatal lightning strike in Brevard as having occurred in 2009 in Melbourne Beach. The victim was a 54-year-old man who was in the process of seeking shelter.
A first responder at the time of the 2009 fatality, Eisen Witcher now serves as Brevard County Fire Rescue’s Chief of Ocean Rescue, coordinating with the weather service constantly about lightning threats which are radioed to 25 lifeguard towers.
He has lifeguards listening for a 30 count (the sound between lightning flash and thunder; one mile for every five seconds) for possible danger on the way.
Witcher said he has a lasting memory of the tragic 2009 strike and thinks about it often, as summertime storms are common and often surprise beachgoers.
“I never will forget that call. We are continuously watching and coordinating with NWS so we can warn people in time,’’ he said.
NWS statistics show July and August are the busiest months for lightning in Brevard with 5,707 and 6,676 strikes respectively. Statewide lightning fatality statistics by month also show July (93) and August (94) with the highest number.
