Rochester, Washington, looking west from the center of down-town. Rochester, Washington, looking east from the center of down-town. NOTE: This website is undergoing many changes - its size has gotten way too large to easily manage. If you encounter a link that no longer works it may be that I have accidentally removed the page/picture the link points to.
Without seeing the extent of the damage, it's impossible to say if the damage might cause a short/start a fire, or pose a shock hazard, or both; you could be seriously injured or killed. There are suggestions to tape the wire with electrical tape. This can be done, but be extremely careful.
Nearly all severe lightning damage is caused by lightning currents flowing through the house wiring as common mode current. This first example has severe ground loops. It is a danger for many reasons. It does not protect for power line neutral faults, equipment failures, or lightning. With a system like this, we should plan on damage when lighting strikes anywhere near electrical powerlines or antennas.