oh, yes, I m w/u on this. I too live where hamsters supply electricity, and in the country they had to put a main box in our yard (I could have a small town on my property tapping this box, lol). we had 2 computers fried thru the surge protectors. (phone line connection!) our ins didnt cover for phone line surges - which no one explained until I went for the 3rd replacement and the guy at the store explained it, and then, again, a direct lightening strike took out another. The safest way is to unplug anything you dont want to replace, unplug before you go on vacation, and even, in a bad storm, dont be sewing at a machine - cut out or do hand work, lol. share t