Hope you have have good homeowners insurance . Even with a high deductible , you should still be able to make a claim . Call them asap .
I would get the palm out soon too . Know a tree company you can trust ?
Better to have the palm taken down under a controlled situation when you want it down rather than have the issue forced upon you due to a storm or high winds and there you are stuck with a huge mess at the most inopportune time !

I know inopportune is a word but I think I spelled it wrong .

Kate - You have 30 days at best. I had the exact same thing happen to a Washingtonia in the exact same spot on our driveway. Too freaky! Find a local tree company and make sure they have a grinder. It should cost around $200 to cut it down, take away the debris, and grind the stump to the soil level. It's then going to take several years for the root ball to rot away. The best you can do is just cover it with mulch and plant around it.

You're going to lose much of that Croton behind it from sunburn. I would dig that up and move it.

Thanks, both of you. (And I'm pretty sure you got 'inopportune' just right.) It's the anniversary of Nikolai Tesla's birthday... maybe that's why the lightning has been so bad this week?

Ricky, I thought I remembered that you had a similar incident. If it only costs $200 I'll consider myself very lucky. I was afraid it would be much, much more. We'll see what the insurance guys say.

Good advice too about the crotons. I've helped these survive through storms and freezes, so I would hate to lose them to sunshine! I'll move them.

Anybody know a good tree grinding service in Orlando?

Kate

I remember using Jarrett's stump grinding service for stumps only. Very good, thorough and trustworthy. I'm just not sure if they remove trees as well. I would call them and see.

Thanks!

Kate,
I'm glad no one got hurt.
Felix

Yikes! So sorry about your lightning strike! I'm glad no one was hurt nor your house. Still, so sorry that you incurred some damage.

I hope your insurance claims process goes smoothly.

Maybe it fried some of the squirrels in the attic! That would be a nice side effect.

What a scary thing. I'm glad you are all ok.
This may be a bad time but...aside from the debris, your yard looks lush and beautiful.
just saying....

Your so lucky you were not getting out of the car! There have been alot of reports of people being hurt or killed from the lightning lately. Glad your OK.

Kate,dear,I did not know that you like fried squirrels.as a side"dish?
Maybe it fried some of the squirrels in the attic! That would be a nice side"dish? LOL
Felix

Hi Kate, I'm back from the Bahamas :-( DON'T CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY if you're with a standard carrier. Here in Florida they are looking for ANY excuse to drop you, and small claims are the best way to have that happen, any exposure and they'll be gone, then you'll see your insurance premiums triple once you have to look around and end up with either Citizens or a substandard carrier. How tall is that palm? Palms are fairly simple to remove...if it's under forty feet you should be able to get it removed for less than $500...don't jeopardize your insurance for such a small amount, save your insurance claims for truly catastrophic events. As a Risk Manager I'm sure you understand what I'm saying.

Tom

Kate, so sorry for your loss with that lightning strike. Glad no one got hurt.

Kate - I have to agree with Tom, don't call the insurance company. Whatever it costs to remove the dead palm is going to be way less than your deductible anyhow.

You can contact the Orange County Extension office for a list of certified arborists who are licensed and bonded in your area. They will probably have a stump grinder, you can ask them when you call.
Yes, I would move the croton, although some can take full sun, and some will come back after freezes, takes about a month.
Squirrels in the attic: If you know how they are getting in and out, wait until they are out, in the day time, when it is REALLY hot. Patch up any holes, especially soffit areas. This is actually easier than it sounds. If they see it is patched, they often won't even try to go back in. They want a nice place to live out of the rain, too.
Glad to read no one was hurt. They (Local 6) say that the worst times for lightening are before and after the storm.
You should get a surge protector for your computer stuff, although it may not protect from a near direct hit.
Sorry you lost your palm, though, and now have all the cleanup.
I agree not to contact your insurancem for the same reasons.