Lightning strikes tree feet away from home

It was a close call for a Dripping Springs man who was just feet away from a lightning strike that ended up sparking a tree fire.

Jake Adams was just a couple hundred feet between life and death. He was sitting on his back porch watching basketball on TV, and decided to pull out his phone and start rolling.

“I had it going for no more than 30 seconds and you hear this kaboom!

The bolt split a nearby tree in half.

“There are always a couple of close calls every year seems like, but this one was especially close for us,” Adams said.

Adams is a father of two and also a baseball coach for Dripping Springs Youth Sports Association. Weather safety is a huge factor in protecting his team.

“We have lightning detectors at every single one of our ball parks. It really just shows the importance of that. Take it very seriously,” he said.

Along with lightning can come severe thunderstorms and flooding. In response to floods from last year, the Lower Colorado River Authority installed five new stream and river gauges in Bastrop and East Travis counties. They say the move can enhance flood preparedness and more importantly save lives.

Adams says he hasn't dealt with flooding, but it still hits close to home.

“We've had some friends nearby, obviously our neighbors in Wimberley they've been impacted. Our prayers still go out to them and their families,” he said.

Lightning can strike anywhere, even after a storm has passed. Although chances of getting hit are extremely slim, it is still important to take precautions. It's a piece of advice the LCRA is taking with flooding, and Adams is taking in regards to protecting his family.

“I think for now this is just a lesson learned for me and my family and those around me. Take it very seriously,” he said.