All South finishes lightning protection at nine Florida schools before classes start

All South Lightning Protection completed systems at nine Florida school campuses across five counties before the 2026 school year began. The projects matter because Florida opens school during peak thunderstorm season, raising the stakes for campuses built around open-air walkways and outdoor movement.

Why it matters: - Florida has more cloud-to-ground lightning than any other state. - School starts in Florida while lightning activity is near its annual peak. - Many Florida campuses rely on clusters of buildings, covered walkways and open-air corridors, which increases exposure for students, staff and visitors moving across campus.

What happened: - All South Lightning Protection completed lightning protection systems at nine Florida school campuses this summer before students returned to class. - The work covered schools in five counties, from Homosassa on the Nature Coast to Port Charlotte. - The completed campuses were Rye Ranch Elementary School in Parrish; Artisan Lakes Elementary School in Palmetto; B.D. Gullett Elementary School in Bradenton; Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School in Lakewood Ranch; Homosassa Elementary School in Homosassa; Crystal River Primary School in Crystal River; Carwise Middle School in Palm Harbor; West Zephyrhills Elementary School in Zephyrhills; and Charlotte Technical College in Port Charlotte.

The details: - Each system was installed, inspected and finished around the fixed opening day deadline for each campus. - The work had to be sequenced with general contractors, roofers, electricians, inspectors and district facilities staff. - The systems were built to NFPA 780 and UL 96A, the national standards for commercial lightning protection in the United States. - The systems are designed to intercept a strike and carry energy safely into the ground away from the structure and occupants. - All South also provided lightning protection this summer across hospitals, high-rise buildings, residential communities, warehouses, industrial sites and commercial construction projects in Florida. - The company is also providing lightning protection for Rangeland High School in Lakewood Ranch, the School District of Manatee County’s new $144 million campus scheduled to open in 2027.

Between the lines: - The summer schedule shows how tightly Florida school construction is tied to the academic calendar, with no flexibility once opening day approaches. - The work also underscores a broader demand for lightning protection across Florida, where severe weather risk extends beyond schools to healthcare, residential and commercial properties. - Ron Poirier, president of All South Lightning Protection, said protecting schools is a responsibility the company does not take lightly and that completing multiple projects at once requires planning, communication and teamwork. - Poirier also said the company aims for work that goes unnoticed, because that usually means the protection is doing its job.

What's next: - All South will continue serving school, healthcare, commercial, industrial, government and residential customers statewide from its Tampa, Sunrise and Jacksonville offices. - The company’s next school project on the horizon is Rangeland High School, which is scheduled to open in 2027. - Florida schools will remain under elevated lightning risk each year as the school calendar overlaps with the state’s peak storm season.

The bottom line: - All South finished a tightly timed school-safety project just before Florida classrooms reopened, in a state where lightning protection is a practical necessity, not a luxury.