'I Was Shaking': Lightning Strikes Long Beach Home

LONG BEACH, NY — Jeanne Marie was at her Long Beach home, just blocks from the beach Thursday, when the powerful thunderstorm got too close.

A lightning bolt struck her chimney, sending bricks flying just after 5 p.m. Friday.

"I didn't even hear anything before that," Marie said. "Then all of a sudden--Bang. It was so loud."

With the smell of smoke, firefighters were quick to respond to the home. She said if a fire did break out from the rare hit, it was likely contained to the chimney.

"It doesn't look like much, but it was strong," Marie said. "I was shaking and I could barely get the words out to 9-1-1. I was so afraid that the house was going to burn."

There was also confusion for her four dogs, so she moved them into the safer space of her car.

Plus, the lightning caused partial power loss that took out the cable boxes.

PSEG Long Island and National Grid did a safety check of the home, although her electrician and chimney repairman do have to make some fixes.

But it's all minor for Marie and her sister, who lives in the downstairs apartment.

"Thank God we're OK. Everything else can be replaced," she said.