Ralph Thomas Wallace, 77, and his friend Moo Saw Kefauver, 42, survived the 85 MPH winds of Isais just to be struck by lightning while trying to clean up the destruction left by the storm.
Wilmington, North Carolina police say the two men were killed after they were struck by lightning while cutting tree limbs Wednesday morning.
According to the report, the incident happened around 11:50 a.m. Both men were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The lightning strike also caused damage to the house next door when a small attic fire broke out. No one in the house was injured.
Hurricane Isais made landfall near Wilmington late Monday night. The area endured heavy rains, flooding storm surge, widespread power outages, and deadly tornadoes.
At least 12 deaths due to lightning have been reported so far in 2020 across the nation. Based on the last 10 years, the U.S. averages 18 lightning deaths through August 5, according to John Jensenius, lightning safety specialist for the National Lightning Safety Council.
