A lightning strike split the enormous tree in the backyard of the Rodríguez family in southwestern Miami-Dade into several pieces, shaking the house and leaving its occupants in shock, according to a report by the local news.
The electric shock occurred on Friday afternoon during the storms that hit southern Florida, while several family members were inside the house.
The moment of impact
Jameson Rodríguez was lying on the living room sofa taking a selfie with his dog when the lightning struck just a few meters from the house.
“Everything was white and I knew lightning had struck, but I had never been so close to one before,” Jameson told Telemundo 51, describing the feeling as an explosion in the yard.
Her sister January Rodríguez, who was in the adjacent room, was also stunned by the intensity of the impact.
"It was like a crackling sound. The lightning struck and, after the branch fell to the ground, a large fissure remained in the center," described January, according to a report by NBC.
The security cameras of the house captured the exact moment of the discharge and the immediate reaction of those inside.
In the video, Jameson can be heard exclaiming: “My goodness, he knocked down the tree.”
A branch fell onto the fence separating the yard from the neighboring property and partially broke it. Despite the scare, no family member was injured.
“The tree destroyed... and now we have an incredible story and trash to pick up”, joked Jim Rodríguez, another family member.
A tragic summer of rays in Florida
The incident involving the Rodríguez family occurs during an especially active and deadly storm season in the state.
Just days earlier, on August 23, a lightning strike killed Kenya Glasgow, age 31, and her two-year-old daughter Kennedi in Margate, Broward County, around 2:30 PM.
Just before, the fishing captain Rick Stanczyk, 44 years old, was struck by lightning off Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, while he was out with clients on his boat.
He was transferred by helicopter to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital and was discharged on August 24.
Florida is the state with the most lightning-related deaths in the United States: between 2016 and 2025, it recorded 51 fatalities, more than any other state in the country.
As of 2026, the state has surpassed 2.3 million lightning strikes, with days reporting more than 90,000 discharges in 24 hours.
Safety recommendations
In light of the recent incidents, Erika Benítez from the Miami-Dade Fire Department reminded everyone of the essential measures to take for safety during a thunderstorm.
"The safest place is inside a building or a completely enclosed vehicle with a rigid roof," Benítez explained to Telemundo 51.
The official also warned about what to do if someone becomes trapped outdoors: "Immediately move away from water, elevated places, trees, and any metallic objects."
And he emphasized the importance of acting without delay if a person is affected
"Call 911 immediately. Don't be afraid to touch the person who has been struck by lightning, as this person is not electrically charged. Providing assistance can mean the difference between life and death."
According to experts, the probability of being struck by lightning in Florida is approximately one in 500,000 people, although 90% of all electrical activity in the state occurs between June and September, the months when the risk is highest for those living in or visiting South Florida.
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