A couple of nights ago, we had some thunder boomers rolling off the mountains and getting sucked down into the valley Denver is in.  So that made it very low storms; low to the ground.  The next day, the news reported 5000 lightning strikes during the two or three storms that rolled across the city.  We took a strike at the gas station next door to our home.  In fact, my oldest son has a house behind mine and he was watching out the window when we witnessed the direct strike on the telephone pole just in front of the gas stations sidewalk which is about 200 feet from my 48 foot tower and antennas.  I've taken a direct hit before while in the shack so I don't take lightning for granted any more.  It was a big bang, that's for sure.  We went without power for over 6 hours which is very long compared to the normal few minutes the power is generally out.

Phil.
K0NX