Such a simple question, my answer is nuanced. Here in South Florida lightning is part of the deal. Almost every summer afternoon we can expect an electrical storm. According to our local weather stations every day we will get somewhere over 5,000 lightning strikes in the county. Tampa has the highest count, but here in Miami, Dade and Palm Beach Counties we are not far behind. These are violent storms too. They kill livestock, people, knock down things, set fires, they are no joke. At the same time, we have to live. If we ran around unplugging all our stuff every time a storm was coming...well hell we just don't do that. We have to live and we learn how to know when a storm is getting close and otherwise we just accept the risk. It is just the way of it down here and if anybody tells you otherwise don't believe them. When the storm is going to hit though, you either unplug your stuff or plan on buying new stuff. I have all the surge protection, whole house protection and have consulted with Florida Power & Light experts. I have the best protection money can buy and the best advice available tells me that there is absolutely no technology that can withstand a direct lightning strike. So use your head, unplug when a storm is imminent.
