Viewing lightning from a distance can be moody and dramatic, but close encounters with these bright flashes in the sky are known to be dangerous to both people and property. The United States saw more than $1.3 billion in property insurance claims caused by lightning in 2021, according to research released recently by the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm®. Some locations, however, experience the perfect atmospheric conditions for the frequent formation of hazardous lightning strikes, and these are the places where lightning costs property owners and insurers the most. In anticipation of Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 19-25), a time when the National Weather Service steps up its efforts to make people more aware of the unsafe conditions caused by lightning, we've listed 2021's top U.S. states for lightning claims in the slideshow above. Here are some lightning safety tips from the National Weather Service:

• The threat of lightning increased as a storm approaches, peaks when it is overhead and gradually diminish as it moves away.
• Many people wait too long to get to a safe place and then go back outside too soon before the threat is over.
• Poor planning and surprise thunderstorms often catch people off guard.

Buildings, tall structures and aircrafts draw lightening because of their metals. So property owners in the path of frequent lightning strikes may want to consider installing a nearby lightning rod, which can draw strikes away from structures. "The best way to minimize your risk of being struck by lightning is to stay informed and plan ahead," the National Weather Service says. "When outside, know where your safe place is, so that you can quickly take shelter if a thunderstorm threatens." See also:

• Lightning protection systems save lives, prevent property damage
• 10 dangerous misconceptions about lightning safety
• How to keep common lightning, surge damages out of claims