Lightning strikes company again

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Turns out, lightning does strike twice. Ironhorse Concrete Plant was hit by lightning Tuesday for the second time in 2009.

In March, lightning hit the Ironhorse ready-mix concrete plant, destroying the company’s internal computer components. It cost them $10,000 to repair the damages. They also grounded their tall equipment to prevent further damage from future lightning strikes.

"We're anchoring and taking any direct lightning strike we had directly into the ground," said Ted Williamson, sales manager with Ironhorse Concrete.

It was a good thing they took that precaution. On Tuesday, two extremely, strong lightning bolts hit the electric poles just outside the plant. Fuses blew all the way back to Interstate 35, and communication between a Jarrell-Schwertner water well and water tower was also knocked off line. 277 water customers had low water pressure Wednesday morning but full service has been restored.

Ironhorse Concrete Plant’s computers were damaged again. Williamson said electricians got the system up Wednesday morning, but it will cost another $5,000 to fix any damage.

First Warning Weather’s Shawn Rutherford said the bolts’ -26 kilo amps are the strongest lightning strike he has seen in the last decade. He verified the bolt’s strength with First Warning Weather’s exclusive Live Strike. Other lightning strikes in Tuesday’s storm measured only two to four kilo amps.