When you were growing up, did anyone ever tell you to unplug all of the electronics in your house before a thunderstorm? Multiple people on social media claim their grandmothers told them to do this as a child, and many say they still practice it now as adults. A VERIFY reader wants to know if it actually helps keep your electronic devices safer to unplug them before a storm, even if they are plugged into surge protectors. All of our sources agree that the best thing you can do to protect the electronics in your home from damage is to unplug them before a thunderstorm — even if they’re connected to a surge protector. “It may seem like a hassle, but if you’re at home and hear thunder or severe-weather alerts, take a few minutes to unplug computers, gaming devices, TVs, coffee makers, toaster ovens, microwaves, and more,” Payless Power, an electric company in Texas, says in a blog post. Any device that uses electricity, such as computers, televisions, household appliances, etc., is susceptible to a lightning strike when it’s storming outside, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) and Safe Electricity. That’s why they both say it’s important to unplug all electronics, including surge protectors, before the storm arrives — never during because it’s unsafe to touch electrical equipment and cords when there’s lightning. “Electrical surges caused by lightning can damage electronics (even at some distance from the actual strike), and a typical surge protector will do little to protect the device (or the person using it) if lightning should strike,” the NWS explains. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/verify/weather-verify/unplugging-electronics-before-a-thunderstorm-can-help-protect-them-from-damage/536-4ab3706f-e0f0-4bb6-93cd-74b2f93e5700 ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►X: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay