KaBoom!
By Sister Cecelia
Saturday evening, March
19, about 9:30 — KaBooom!!!
What
was that?
The
sight and sound of a lightning strike are truly frightening and awesome! For a
minute no one could move. Then came the realization that lightning had
struck right outside the windows in the dining room, where three of us were
sitting around the table. Another sister in the community room thought a bomb
had exploded right above her, although it was actually beside her window, too,
not in view but heard quite loudly. It looked like a big ball of fire exploding
outside besides the loud, loud KaBoom! Crack!
We
later discovered that the lightning had struck the tall Norway spruce that is 6
feet from our building. From there it jumped over to the building, hitting a
long copper sheeting plate along the wall that had been put down under the
ground to prevent the tree roots from going under the cement slab floor. We assume
that it jumped to the copper sheeting, resulting in the major explosion that
caused the electric circuits in the building to malfunction.
The shock had knocked the Emmaus icon off the dining room wall that was struck as well as a handle on one of the windows and everything off the window sill. Then we noticed it had pushed the radiator a good half inch away from the wall that was struck. In the meantime, our fire alarm was blaring, so I raced over toward the front entrance to the fire alarm panel to see if I could ascertain where there might be a fire before turning the siren off. The lights showed that circuits 1, 2, and 4 were all affected.
 |
| Damaged fire alarm |
Our
guest was understandably concerned and asked whether we should evacuate the
building. I said we would find out if we had a fire first. We all went in
different directions trying to locate some sign of fire, and encountered a
smoky smell on all three floors of the building. The smell was quickly
disappearing. After thorough inspection of all the rooms and outside to see whether
the roof was smoking, we convened to say that no evacuation was necessary—yet.
What to do next?
We
called the fire department, reported the lightning strike, and asked them to
come. Was it possible that we still had a
fire inside the wall somewhere? Did they have a way of telling whether there was
a fire smoldering within the sheetrock walls?
In ten minutes, the assistant fire chief showed up and we explained what had happened as best we could.
 |
| Fire truck arriving |
 |
| Bringing in equipment to detect fires in the walls |
For the next three hours he directed the search for any possible dangers. The crew of about six of our volunteer firemen went through the entire building to look for any trouble.
 |
| Checking electric circuit panels |
 |
| Checking more electric panels |
 |
| Where are these |
 |
| Finding red alarms in some panels |
One sister went to her room to retire, only to discover that although one side of her bedroom had electricity, the outlet she wanted to use had a scorched area surrounding the plate.
 |
| Ascending the stairs to check on scorched outlets |
 |
| Bedroom outlet |
 |
| Bedroom outlet |
 |
| Bedroom outlet |
That
made it necessary to examine the ten electric circuit panels on all three
floors. Some of the switches were in red, including the line going to the
bedroom. The firemen cut out a section of the sheetrock to make sure there was
no fire or smoldering in the wall.
 |
| Cut out scorched sheetrock |
They then used a heat detector on all the walls and ceilings on all three floors to make sure no fires were within the walls.
A
call brought in another set of “eyes.” The Salem fire department of about six
men arrived soon and were taken to all the electric circuit panels and all the
places affected by the lightning.
In the meantime, we realized the water wells were affected, so we had no more water after the pipes were emptied.
 |
| Checking every floor |
 |
| Well switches blown off and no water being pumped in |
Consequently, there was no electricity because of the scorched outlets in all the bedrooms on the second floor. Later we found that ten rooms were not getting heat because the board controlling the flow of water in the pipes had been ruined. Later, we discovered that several flow valves were also damaged and had to be replaced. All this activity lasted until after midnight.
Sometime
later we all retired and tried to sleep.
Calls
went in for an electrician, a plumber, and an IT specialist, who wonderfully
came on Sunday to try to fix what they could, temporarily at least. They
managed to get one well working, some electricity back on, the internet working,
and three phones back in service. A friend who lives a mile away told us later
that his own house shook when he heard the loud bang. It was heard loudly even four
miles away.
Now we are still working to get all the other repairs made: the destroyed fire alarm system, a board controlling the heat for ten rooms, the “stacks” controlling the Wi-Fi and internet systems, the generator, doorbells, and water softener. Lightning impacted some of the voice and data equipment, a network switch, and two wireless access points, and all ten telephones were lost.
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| Icon frame damaged |
 |
| Ten phones fried |
The tree that was struck by lightning was removed for $1400.
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| Struck tree, green arrow |
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| Cutting down tree |
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| Tree limbs being removed |
 |
| Tree limbs being removed |
We
will put lightning rods on the newer section of the monastery, built in 1992.
Since the trees were taller than the building, we did not think we needed them.
The original buildings have them because there were no trees here when we first
built them.
We
are extremely fortunate compared with all the destruction and upheaval in so
many parts of the world. We feel so very grateful; the lightning damage could
have been so much worse.
Dear Friends,
Following the April e-newsletter, many of you have reached out to ask how you can help the Nuns after their Monastery was hit by lightning last month. Of course, prayers are always welcome. For those wishing to make a monetary donation please note the following information and instructions.
Please make your Check out to:
The Nuns of New Skete
Mail to:
The Nuns of New Skete
Attention: Lightning Strike 2022
343 Ashgrove Rd.
Cambridge, NY 12816
*Your tax deductible donation will be used to assist the Nuns with the costs associated with repairs due to the lightning strike as well as any other areas of most need.
If you prefer to make a donation online please use this secure link: https://form.jotform.com/
*Please note this online donation is being made to New Skete Monasteries and is a restricted donation to benefit the Nuns of New Skete Lightning strike damage, and areas of most need at the Nuns monastery.
Thank you for your prayers, friendship and thoughtful generosity.
In Christ’s Love,
The Nuns of New Skete
.
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