Thousands of trees are struck by lightning every year. These trees will have varying degrees of damage ranging from complete shattering and destruction of the tree, to a slow lingering death, to virtually no apparent damage at all (Figure 1). When severe damage does occur, parts of the tree can fall or be thrown hundreds of yards causing extensive damage to people or property. In dry conditions the electrical current may also flow through the root system, potentially damaging and destroying it. Trees with lightning damaged roots rarely survive.