Lightning is a serious Summer threat... more so than even official knew. Last year for the first time there were lightning deaths and injuries on the beaches in California... this was so shocking (excuse the pun) that official had no protocol to deal with the situation. ? Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year. Lightning kills an average of 49 people in the United States each year, and hundreds more are severely injured. ? What can you do? Here's some great info.