Do You Unplug Equipment During Thunderstorms?

I didn't and lost my Classe  SSP 800 AVP to a strike approx. 300 yds from home.

In our neighborhood - in last 4 years, three homes hit with lightning strikes. One was a two story...total destruction, look like a bomb was dropped. They had to build from scratch...took over a year. The 2nd destroyed anything electrical (all) and their water system. The third was not hit directly but the ground current caused considerable damage to all electrical systems. The home/property that was totally damaged was significantly lower than the rest = halfway down the hill...looked like it would be the least susceptible...just the way to storm passed through. 

I jumped on this thread because just this past week had an electrician out to upgrade my audio room ...two dedicated 20 amp 8 gauge circuits. We had a long discussion about lightning strikes and home protection. He indicated there is no circuit breaker, conditioner, surge system that will stop 3 million volts...I asked about lighten rod protection systems. He felt that drawing strikes to your property was not optimal either. He said everything would need to be completely disconnected....ethernet, HDMI, all plugs/cords and as far away from main house electrical system...even then a direct hit with ground current could be an issue. I unplug everything...and keep my fingers crossed.

I have a Furman on my main system and a whole house on the main panel.  However, if you have lots of wires (cat5, telephone, power, cable, usb, etc.) remember that lightening is agnostic, it will travel whatever is available. 

Several years ago, i had a strike on a tree 50' from house. The charge came down the "dog fence" wire, to that fence's transformer (which exploded thru the space my head had been 5 min before) and then on to my PC and my Bryston integrated via house wiring.  Took out my mother board but not my drives. 

Bryston service repaired the integrated since it was under warranty.  However, they said the "don't usually warrant lightening strikes."  Pretty much only buy Bryston these days. 

Sometimes. But I usually rely on my Furman to do the job. 

I try to unplug it all now. I have lived in my house now 36 years and used to work outside the home. Ground surges from lightning are a real issue here in the mountains of Colorado. Twice I have had equipment fried by lightning. First, one channel of a dual mono amp took a hit and proceeded to blow. It's surge also blew the woofer of the speaker it was connected to. The woofer was kindly replaced by the speaker's maker (easy install by me), and the amp was sent to the manufacturer would repaired it.

The second time, about 5 years ago, it fried the D/A processor and a different power amp. This time the repairs/replacements would have been much more expensive and the insurance company balked, telling me I had to prove it was from lightning. WTH!

I have always had "protective" surge connectors, with guarantees, but those don't mean diddly. They may protect from regular utility company surges but not from mother nature. Now I work from home and unplug when I can.