And a direct quote.
"Statistically, few recorded lightning strikes exceed 200kA and 200kA/μs rate of rise, so these values are often used inconsidering direct strikes and building protection network design."
So yeah the event can remain in the us but decay over MS.
"However, currents can be higher at subscribers premises, instruments at the far end of telemetry lines possibly experience surge cur-rents of 5kA between ‘near’ and ‘far’ earths, the long lines serving to flatten the very steep initial pulse and lengthening decay times."
