Lightening strike victim credits God with survival

Corps, Nicholls geomatics ink deal
July 23, 2013
OUR VIEW: Low-ball lease a loss for TPSB
July 23, 2013
Corps, Nicholls geomatics ink deal
July 23, 2013
OUR VIEW: Low-ball lease a loss for TPSB
July 23, 2013

Chances of being struck by lightning in a year: 1 in 700,000


Chances of being struck by lightning in a year while inside a building: considerably less.

For Houma lighting strike survivor Lakeisha Brooks, a higher power was clearly on her side when she became a member of the undoubtedly much smaller statistic.

“I give all the credit to God,” Brooks said. “I am very spiritual, and I always pray for protection. At 2:13 p.m. that day, God was taking care of me. He let me know that he’s got me covered.”


On July 15, Brooks was driving home in a rainstorm after taking her youngest daughter A’nyiah to a doctor’s appointment. Brooks’ older daughter Shalynn Williams was also with them. When the rainfall became too heavy for the mother’s liking, Brooks chose to stop at Rouse’s Food Store on Grand Caillou Road and wait the storm out.

“We were walking in the store, picking up a few things, and I heard a loud thunder crash,” Brooks said. “We started walking back to the front to checkout, and I realized I had forgotten a few things, so I sent my Shalynn to go get them.”

Brooks then pushed her cart, which A’niyah was sitting in, up to the cash register as Shalynn walked off to get the last few items. Then it happened.


“I just started feeling this burning feeling in my right leg and foot,” she said. “I saw this flash hit the floor, then the floor tile exploded and my shoe on my right foot flew off.”

“A man ran over to me and asked if I was OK. He said he saw the flash, too.”

According to Brooks, store managers also came running over to see what had happened, asking her if she was OK, and emergency services, as well as law enforcement officers were called to the scene.


“My oldest daughter came back from getting the forgotten items, and she was smiling until she saw me sitting down,” Brooks said. “She knew something was wrong, and she started crying. I had bruises and burns on my left thigh.”

When Acadian Ambulance EMTs arrived, they checked Brooks’ vital signs, heart rate and blood pressure before transporting her to Terrebonne General Medical Center.

“The EMTs said my blood pressure was a little high, but that I was OK,” Brooks said. “I still feel burning on my skin, though. I’ve also been getting headaches, and my eyes are sensitive to bright light.”


According to Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis, officers from his department were the first to arrive at the store, and officers at the scene concluded that lightning struck the roof of the building, traveled through the sprinkler system and struck the metal plate Brooks was standing on.

“It’s pretty unusual, but it did happen,” Duplantis said. “It’s a very rare occurrence. I don’t ever remember getting a call like that. Outside, yes, but in a building, that has got to be very rare.

“When officers got there, she was conscious, and officers saw the marks on her leg. I’m so glad it wasn’t any worse than it was.”


For now, Brooks is receiving help with taking care of her four children, and the family also spent time at Brooks’ mother’s home.

“I will have to go to therapy and take medication for the pain, but I will take it one day at a time,” Brooks said. “It’s a miracle. I pushed that buggy with my youngest daughter forward and sent the other one back to get those last few groceries. I saved my children, my girls.

“I would also like to thank Alvin, the Good Samaritan, who sat with my girls when the EMTs arrived.”


Lakeisha Brooks, center, takes a moment to pose with her children, clockwise, from top, Shalynn, Tyris, A’nyiah and Michael Williams. Brooks was struck by lightning last Monday while standing in line at a local grocery store.

CLAUDETTE OLIVIER | TRI-PARISH TIMES