TOOL FACTORY, INC. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING!

East Dorset, VT, August 4, 2001 - Tool Factory, Inc. a Vermont based software publisher was literally struck by lightning on Saturday night around 5:30 PM. Two employees were in the facility working at the time.

One employee said, "The 8 foot windows lit up like a huge flash bulb. I heard it before I saw it!" One computer monitor turned blood red and then cycled through a series of bizarre colors. A wood-smoke smell permeated the office, and everyone ran outside to see if the building was on fire. Luckily it wasn't!

While this experience was something of a tragedy in that Tool Factory lost its phone system and network, it has also been an interesting science lesson. Normally when lightning strikes, you will see the flash and then wait to hear the thunder afterwards. However, in our experience at the heart of the strike, the crash actually came first and then the flash of light.

So as we rebuild our systems, we are planning a curriculum unit on lightning! And we offer simple advice...make sure you have surge protectors!