Last Saturday into Sunday I was on call and got a call out for an emergency utility locate for a busted water main. There was a pine tree about 50ft from the main that had the telltale sign of a lightening strike down the side of the tree not to mention that half the roots were blown out of the ground. The strike blew a 12ft section of the main to shreds. There were pieces of the main on the opposite side of the road. There was also an AT&T pedestal nearby that I could no longer find. The phone drop that ran from the ped about 500ft to a church was fried, there was a large scorch mark and melted plastic on the side of the church where the interface box was.
Made some good money that weekend with 27 straight hours on the clock.
Wow, that is incredible energy to do that much damage!