Twenty-two 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team soldiers and one Army civilian training on Fort Stewart’s Donovan Field experienced a lightning strike at about 4:35 p.m. Monday.

“They weren’t directly struck; they were in tents,” Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said. He said it is unknown whether lightning struck the tents housing tactical operations or the ground nearby.

All 23 military personnel were taken to Winn Army Community Hospital for observation, according to Larson.
“No one lost consciousness,” he said.

“Nineteen were treated and released, three stayed at Winn and one went to Memorial (Health University Medical Center),” Larson said. He added the lightning strike damaged some equipment, including several computers.

“The (installation’s) primary focus is on taking care of people,” Larson said.

Storms moved through the area Monday evening and left about 2,000 Lake George and Woodland Lake residents without power, according to Mark Bolton, spokesman for Coastal Electric Cooperative.

The storm, a remnant of Tropical Storm Lee, was one of many throughout the region that produced gusts up to 50 miles per hour and caused power outages from Darien up to Richmond Hill, Bolton said.

“The storm moved through pretty fast; it did last more than just a few minutes at any one location, but the winds were really gusty, and the trees were twisting at the tops.”

Bolton said his crews did not know of major damage, and all power was restored by about 10 p.m.