Here in Queensland, we are having a spring heatwave just before summer hits or so the weather bureau says - I have only ever said as long as I can remember that we only get winter & summer, no inbetween stuff...
Anyway, we had another summer storm this afternoon...it was enough to make me turn off my computer as it's not plugged in to a surge protector & I didn't want to risk frying my computer during the storm. 3 hours later, the storm is still hanging around - it's either the same storm that has turned around or a different one.
Do you turn off your computer during a storm? Why or why not?
[question posted by moonchild1au]
responses and comments:
I always turn my computer off during a storm. I also unplug it and I also make sure that my phone line is disconnected. Even though many people shut it off, or even have a surge protector they always forget that phone line. Phone lines can carry electric to and can also blow your computer if its hooked. I have lost 4 phones over the past 5 years due to forgetting to disconnect them during a storm. [pmbhuntress09]
Wow, this is the first time I heard about phones being disconnected during a storm. How bad should the storm be before deciding to turn it off? I have always heard of turning the computer off during a bad storm but never the phonelines. I think it's a good idea to turn off our phone during storms because we are using PABX and I think the electronics on that stuff would be destroyed should electric currents truly run through phonelines. [laydee]
Hi Moon. Sometimes I turn off my computer, because I am afraid frying :) But sometimes, when I have some work on it I don't turn off my comp and I am lucky one that in a big storms my computer is ok. One year ago we had a big storm here and TV's to some of our neighbors burned... [KompitaPita]
That's why I normally turn off my computer in a storm...although we had a storm yesterday, it wasn't that bad so I left my computer on. [moonchild1au]
Hello moonchild1au this si checkmail and still doesn't think me or miine city has ever being hit by a storm, as normally during rainy season its natural to have big waves, heavy flow of winds and lightening etc.So how do we distinguish an heavy rain and storm.But still peoples say that we were struck by an strom, yeah there are some disaster due to it, but its minial as compared to a real storm disaster.Even in heavy rainfall i keep mine PC working unless the power goes out from the main control.Its switch off because of shortcircuit in some place due to water lodging in the underground cable wires of electricity.Else there is no chance to shut down Mine pc in rain storm. [checkmail]
That's fair enough...here in Australia, we are prone to get violent storms with lots of thunder & lightning so that's why I turn off my computer. [moonchild1au]
If there is alot of lightening I sure do....my friend had a lightening strike and it blew out all her electrical....computer...phones....clocks....so yes I think it's the wisest thing to do! [jillhill]
My friend had the same thing hapen with her computer & I think that's why I turn mine off moreso now. [moonchild1au]
Hi moonchild, if I think the lightening is near I turn everything off as the house has already been struck twice. The first time the computer was turned on and we heard he mother board blow up, the second time it blew the telephone which is electric. The trouble is that at certain times we can have endless storms, earlier in the year we had lighening storms every day for a month. [thea09]
Hey Thea, it's virtually the same here in Australia in the summer - well where I am anyway, we get storms just about every afternoon in the summer. [moonchild1au]
Yes indeed--I always turn my computer off and unplug it to escape lightning strikes that could fry the computer. I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially since I couldn't afford to replace my computer if something major happened to it. That sounds like quite a storm you were having, three hours is a major storm. Was there a lot of damage done in your area? [kareng]
Me too - the storm kept hanging around or it was a few storms over the 3 hours but no damage in my area but in Brisbane which is about a 90 min drive south got hail & some trees fell over - it was on the news!! [moonchild1au]
moonchild, i dont often turn my computer off. I dont feel it is necessary unless constant lightning is happening close to your house. Now that I read some of these stories I feel I should turn my computer off in a bad storm. The worst thats ever happen to me during a storm on a computer was that it just restarted because the power went out for a second. [alex2hl]
I am like you alex2hl! I have RARELY turned off my computer. I am always working on something, and the lightening looks like it is in the distance. I have had it restart too,lightening isn't so bad here like it was on the NE Colo plains.Mostly thunder and rain here. Oh,Yeah,and TORNADOS!!! One night this summer we had a bad storm, the sky looked green and dark,I did turn it off then ..and as it happened a tornado hit 6 blocks away!! IN NE Colo where I lived before ; we would go to the door to watch "God's fireworks" I would tell the children.We would look out the glass doors at the dry lightening and lightening shows that happened many times each summer.Very beautiful(unless you were hit)! I DID turn the computers off when we lived there and lightening started. [arcticwolf]
I never turn off my computer during a storm because there is no point, I mean let's speak on honest terms what are the chances that a storm is going to knock out the electricity in your area. And also what are the advantages of turning your computer off during a storm, and is it trully going to help you or your computer, think about those things next time there is a storm. [danella25]
Where I am in Australia, the storms can get that violent in summer that the power quite often goes out - it hasn't happened in a while where I live but I think we're in for a hot summer which means BAD storms thumbdown [moonchild1au]
Hello Moon I never turn off my computers. I have them both plugged into a serge protector. I have been through many storms with my computers on it only affected one when I didn't have it plugged into a serge protector, it took out the modem once. [free_man]
I brought my serge protector at wal mart when I brought my second computer I paid I think 35 dollars for it. I never turn off my computers they run constantly. Never had a problem with either of them. [free_man]
I agree, we do have really only 2 seasons here. The short winter which is generally pretty dry and the long summer which is the wet season. Spring and autumn are just short transitions to these extremes. The summer always comes around pretty quickly here! happy Storms are a problem for us as my wife and I work on our computers every day. We usually try to hang on for as long as possible and see how bad the storm will be before we turn off. We have had the power cut out while being online before and have had no problems. We have a safety switch on our power box in our home as most houses do these days, but we also have a large surge protector with battery back up. This is one heavy unit as it takes special batteries. We do not have it connected currently as the batteries are flat, but it is perfect for protecting computers and still keeping them running through a blackout! [RawBill1]
Wow, that would have been a scary thing to happen. Thankfully that has never happened to me and we get lots of thunder storms here, particularly right now at this time of year! [RawBill1]
Only when it is really bad I once a few Years ago stayed on while there was a bad Storm, when I switched on the next Day everything was gone including my IP address so now if the storm is really bad I will turn it of as I would not like to go through that again [gabs8513]
Now that's bad...i can understand why you turn off your computer...too much of a hassel!! [moonchild1au]
Hello Moonchild, Before I used to just let it work even during the storm. I was confident thinking that electric surge would prevent it from exploding. But after 2 storm incident which caused damage to 2 computers owned by 2 different neighbors of mine, I learned my lesson. From then on, when it starts raining heavily, or when I heard thunderstorms and lightning, I will then turn it off, even the TV and other appliances. I always see to it, no wires are plugged in. [honeylore23]
i can understand that!! I turn off everything but the fridge & freezer unless it's real bad [moonchild1au]
No I don't. The chances of my computer being fried by a storm are very slim. Certainly not enough of a chance to make me spend the storm without having fun on the computer. Unless lighting were to hit and send an electrical pulse through you house wiring, the computer is OK. Of course if lighting did do that, even turning your computer off wouldn't save it. the jolt would get it anyway. [josga2008]
this is soo true - nothing would be safe. [moonchild1au]
Hi moonchild1au, During a storm I would turn off everything and unplug it. I remember when I was a kid we had a bad storm here and it blew our television. The television was was unplugged from the power but the lightning hit the TV cable which was still plugged in. So know I unplug everything even the cable for the cable TV. I must invest in a surge protector at some stage but I have been putting it off as we don't get many storms here. [thezone]
Definitely, a surge protector protector would be a lot cheaper than having to replace a TV set. [thezone]
Hai, Im from indonesia, because this tropical country and a lot of rainy days, when a rainy and strom I used to turn off all my electrical, like tv, computers, laptot and sometime my phone. it because when strom day, will make they broken. LOL [riribhakti]
Our storms don't get as bad as yours as we're a little further south than you but still get violent storms just the same so I can understand where you're coming from [moonchild1au]
I turn off because i don't have possibilities to buy a new computer, so i have protect this computer [zemanel94]
me too, I can't afford a new computer either [moonchild1au]
Hello moonchild. I always turn my computer off when there is a storm and lightning. I also turn off my TV and other appliances. I used to not turn them off but after my DVD player and speakers got damaged by a lightning two years back, i do not take chances anymore. I turn everything off except the fridge. [Gareth126]
me too unless it's only a mild storm [moonchild1au]
You are from Queensland? Im from Adelaide. Nice to meet another Aussie here. Yes, I turn off my computer during an electrical storm. I turn off my TV as well. A few years back I had my computer on when a storm hit, my computer got friend, although it wasnt a direct hit. Im very careful now. I do have a surge protector, but Im not sure if it 100% reliable for lightening hits. We dont get that many storm is Adelaide. My brother lived in Queensland for one year. He described the amount of storms you had as being quite violent. [jennybianca]
Yeah, I'm on the Sunshine Coast...us Aussies are very few & far between here huh? Our storms do get quite violent at times...I don't have a really good surge protector - I need to get one too. [moonchild1au]
I used to turn my computer off during storms. Especially when the power goes out I unplug it right away because if my computer's on when there's a storm and the power goes out.. When my power comes back on so does my computer and there's always a chance it'll fry. Now I have a laptop so I just unplug it when there's a big storm and pray to god it doesn't die before the storm stops. [katisaurus]
That's what I did last night lol - i have a laptop & everytime the storm subsided, I'd plud it back to the power wink [moonchild1au]
you turn off the computer in the storm in summer when thunderstorm days come.not only its electicity but also all of things conected with them should be turned off at once.because of the computer with the electicity are so easy to be damagous to the computer.especially the keyboard can be so easier to be hurt.and the computer is burned completely so that the computer can not be used. so in the storm in the summer.the computer are turn off the electicity at once. [pxm204192]
That's what I do..I only have to unplug my computer from the wall as I run my internet wirelessly so I only have the power cord going to my computer. [moonchild1au]
Yes, I turn my computer off during a storm. I do have a surge protector but if the electicity goes out I can not use the computer so I might just as well shut if off until the storm have pass by. I also shut my computer down when I am not on it or am not at home because never know when we could get a storm. [happy6162]
This is true, you can't use a computer without power unless it's a laptop [moonchild1au]
hi moonchild yes I always turn off my table top computer as I do not want it damaged e ven though I do have a surge protector. also u nplug all the phones too . and do not use a phone during an electric storm as you could get a nasty shock. after all replacing things is very costly so just protect them instead. Thats right I learned many years ago in school that your summer is the same time as our winters. of course winter is a silly word in southern california as it does not get really cold.happy[/emsadcry [Hatley]
Yeah, I never talk on the phone during a storm either...Where I am in Queensland, it's a similar climate to you...our coldest part of winter probably lasts 2 - 4 weeks [moonchild1au]
Certainly i turn my computer off, and unplug it, as use computer is dangerous thing , sometimes it will destroy your computer or even though it will let you in trouble. I remember one time i forget unplug my phone, after the strom when i want call somebody, the phone refused to work, what a pity, so after that, i unplug all machine during storm. [mylearn]
I definitely try to do the same thing but sometimes I forget [moonchild1au]
here in my country are not so many storms but if starts one i unplug my computer the frige the tv, dvd and allelectronics in my house [ANGEEELICA]
In a bad storm I do all of that [moonchild1au]
Yes I turn off my computer, and unplug it during a storm, because I don't want my computer to get damage during the storm, My niece who know all about computers, told be to unplug it during a storm, because if the lighting strikes something, it could damage my computer.sad [notlistening2]
Yeah, my friend had hers blow up in a storm a few years ago [moonchild1au]
nah I never turn my pc or any electrical devices off during a lightning storm the reason being is all my electrics have surge protectors so that will drop out before it fries my pc. [bigbaps]
i would do the same but I need to find a really good surge protector first. [moonchild1au]
Yup, I turn off my computer if there is a storm in my area. [madmi83]
Foolishly, I usually leave my computer on, which is a dumb idea even with a surge protector. Forget the computer being fried - the user could also be fried if lightning hits just right! Although I know it's smarter to turn it off, unless the storm is horrendous and thunder is crashing all around, no, I don't turn off my computer. [mysticmaggie]
This is true, the user would definitely be fried!! I only turn off my computer of the storm is getting really close & it's bad. [moonchild1au]
Here in my place, when there is a storm my computer is always shut off. My computer is very useless to me, since during stormy season the internet line or signal is not good or sometimes there is no internet access. Then it would be a boring night that i cant surf the net. However, i will just have to watch television. [doniep]
in really bad storms, I turn off the tv too. [moonchild1au]
i usually turn off my pc in a storm, and others electrical machines, i dont want to run the risk. [alilin28]
moonchild1au, I have both circuit breakers and surge protectors installed at my home. As our television is also connected to the modem, we rarely switch off or unplug our electrical appliances or computers. Besides, we rarely have violent storms back home so I do not have the same issue as you. However, when I am overseas, I will have to play by the ear and try to be aware of what to do during certain extreme weathers. Depending on workload, I would use the laptop's battery power and avoid using the wired power during a bad storm or if I am not sure of my work environment. Other than that, I am quite alright.happy [skysuccess]
moonchild1au, From where you are, most of the surge protectors commercially available are quite good. Since the storms at your place is quite a havoc, I would advocate that you do a check and ensure that all your electrical fittings are properly earthed and that the electric cables are not worn out or damaged by the previous storms at your place. Most of all, that your roof's lightning protector is not damaged and that it is still able to protect your home when the next storm arrives. Only when all these in good order and good working condition will your surge protectors be able to do its job properly. Take care and compliments of the season. [skysuccess]
The honest truth with me is I never turn my computer off during a storm of any kind and I never had my computer fry on me~thank goodness. I also never knew anybody who would turn their computer off during a storm, but they know they outta take the time to unplug the computer. I just know alot of lazy people I guess who dont fear their computer frying. [TierrasMommy]
I only know 1 person who has had their computer fry on them...I just think it's best to be safe thank sorry [moonchild1au]
Here in our country storm is not really affect the continuity of internet connection. Therefore, even there is storm I always turn on my computer to do something on the net... [aerous]
Oh, I see. Perhaps, that is due to your climate situation there? [aerous]
Here in Arizona we have wind storms that flare up once in a while along with the rain and yes I do turn my computer off because the storm shuts off the electricity. It is better to have my computer off during the storm than not for the computer goes through this long detailed report telling me the computer was shut down wrong and do I want to start it back up using the safe mode. So, as soon as a storm starts up I shut the computers in my home down. [Ripple555]
It's a pain when that happens huh? [moonchild1au]
Nope, never do. I probably should though. I -knock on wood- have never had any problems with the internet or any other devise in my household during a storm :) [tjandjenna]
you are lucky...it can get sooo expensive when something does happen [moonchild1au]
if your living in a place where there will powercut when storms are there ,then you should consider buying pc system failure safe kit so the thing it does is it will store about 30 minutes of emergency power so even if your house is in power cut you can turn your computer and save it from being fried off [salman456]
I've never heard of that...i think i may have to look into this. [moonchild1au]
I live in Vancouver,BC so we don't get a lot storms.So I usually don't turn my pc off. [ComicManiac]
You are very lucky no to get too many storms!! [moonchild1au]
Yup, i do turn off all my appliances like computer and television as i do not like them to intercept the loud thunder and lightning as it may result to short circuit or damage my appliances . For protection it better to turn it off so that the appliances may not becomes damage and it would last for a longer time. [neelianoscet]
well, only appliances like TV and computer is the one which I always stop using when their is bad weather to avoid damaging their system and in term of refrigerator I also do the same thing with your.. [neelianoscet]
yes most definitely and i unplug mine too. any lighting strike to power lines or even the phone lines can fry your computer. most surge protectors only stop up to 150,000 volts. lightening is usually much more than that and will allow the excess voltage to leak past them. i have been working in the computer repair business for 9 years and love thunder storms. they tend to drive up business. [darklee]
OMG! My husband and i just had this fight lol I think its stupid... he always runs to the comp in a storm... like honestly what are the chances of that happening?!?!? [Jennifer_lee_88]
the chances are low but not too low...only a couple of weeks ago in one of our violent storms, a worker at Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's zoo) got struck by lightning whilst at work. [moonchild1au]
I've never ever turned off my computer in a storm, and I don't why you should anyway, nothing happens to my computer if I don't turn it off in a storm, electricity can't break inside your home, it's (ALMOST) impossible, but it has happened to most people and that's only cause their house is weakly built and stuff like that, plus if electricity touched your computer, this is what would happen. 1. Electricity can't travel through plastic (causing no effect). 2. Electricity meeting electricity makes more electricity so basically it's recharging your computer which is bonus for you anyway. Just my thoughts, hehe!P.S Sorry if I offended you in anyway cause I didn't mean to. Thanks, Jordan. [J0rd4n]
I agree with Angelique that power surges are bad for any appliance....my friend had their computer on in a storm & the computer virtually went to smoke because of the power surge,...it's definitely better to be safe than sorry. [moonchild1au]
Unless there is a LOT of lightning, I don't turn mine off. I have everything I value plugged into a surge protector that is plugged into another surge protector! I check them all every time there's an electrical storm to make sure the protection light is still on. I don't buy cheap surge protectors, so I will unplug everything if the storm has a lot of lightning because I don't want to have to replace a bunch of surge protectors all at once. What I need now is a battery power supply for my computer and that's not just for storms. Where I live the power goes out alllll the time, on a beautiful sunny day it can go out for hours! But what generally happens is it blinks just enough to shut down my computer and might do that a half dozen times a day. So if the storms don't kill my computer, the power company will! [NoirAngelique]
You are definitely well protected!! [moonchild1au]
I will turn it off my television, and the my wired PC. Usually when the storms are pretty bad, the service will be lost anyways so its no use anyways. If it is a bad one with lots of lightening and thunder. I would not want to fry my computer either as I have heard if it happening before to some friends of mine. [ladygator]
me too...I'd rather not have to spend money on another computer! [moonchild1au]
I that this is one of the goldern rules in relation to pcs! I think that it's important to always turn your pc off during a storm unless you have one of these UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) devices attached to your system. If you have one of these and you get a power cut then your UPS will rely on backup battery power and this will provide you with enough standby power to shut down your pc properly and then you can wait for the storm to blow over. Another good thing to use is a surge protector! You attach all you computer plugs to this and then if there is a power surge your pc will be protected and the surge protector will absorb the excess rise in electricity. I think that it's better to be safe than sorry as I definitely wouldn't want to be paying out for a brand new computer. Andrew [AndrewFreyne]
I totally agree with you on that one Andrew!! [moonchild1au]
While residing in Florida (lightning capital of the world), I turned my computer off. I had a tv struck one afternoon during a bad storm. I learned from that. Now that I'm in Georgia, I only turn it off when it's bad. [marysia66]
Yep, but only if it's severe enough here to form a tornado, then I turn it off and cringe. [marysia66]
No I don't turn my computer off when there is a storm. I am kind of concerned about living the power cord plugged in though. I guess It never phased me that anything would happen. My son always get nervous when a storm comes. He turns off every electronic thing in his room. That's the life of an 8 year old. [certified5_star_chic]
Your son definitely is in the good habit early so nothing of his is destroyed by a power surge! [moonchild1au]
Normally I don't shut off my computer during storms since they are on surge protectors and I trust they will be fine. If I'm downstairs or near the computer I'll go ahead and shut it down so I don't lose any of my work but I don't stress about it too much since it's on the surge protector. My laptop I watch though as it could be very dangerous if it is plugged in during a storm and not on a protector so I def. make sure it's off of it. But for the most part it's better to be safe than sorry and just make sure it's off. I usually don't really care all too much because I at least have some protection if it works right which it has for a very long time. [tgillen111791]
I'm yet to buy good surge protectors - mine is on one but I'm not sute how good it is. [moonchild1au]
maybe i didnt turn off the computer last time, but the tv. because i think it's safe in the tall building. but if in the countryside, i think i'll turn it off, even turn off the electricity. lol but maybe from next time, when great storm, i'll turn off all the electrical equipment.wink [yolanda19191]
Personally, I don't think it's safe anywhere unless you have good surge protectors, etc. [moonchild1au]
I have heard stories of melted down tv sets. Its best to turn everything off and unplug it. [jdyrj777]
I think its very important during a storm the produces lightening. [jdyrj777]
No, I went and bought me a expensive surge protector just for these mishaps. That way I can work even in bad weather. If the electric flickers on and off multiple times I do turn off my computer then. [hagirl]
They are not as much as you think they are.... I was surprised when I went to buy mine how cheap they were..... It is worth the investment.... I even have my TV and VCR and DVD hooked to a surge protector also.....Storms can be very nasty to anything electric during a storm [hagirl]
yup its normal for me to turn it off theres a big chance of power failures i cant make that risk since i have lots of stuff stored on my single core pc.. [katuray]
me too plus it's expensive to replace computers - especially if you don't have the spare cash. [moonchild1au]
Hi moonchild here in NSW we are having quite a few thunder storms lately I always turn off and unplug my computer but I never unplug my phone! I did not know it can damage the phone? well from now on I will do that too! just lets hope summer is not going to be so bad [alottodo]
Hi there, how are you? well yesterday we had an awful hot day here but today is raining and is cool thanks Goodnees for that! by the way I live in Campbellton too so if you ever come around let me know, have a lovely Christmas. [alottodo]
I use a notebook, so I pull out the power, if the storm lasts long then obviously it doesn't help. Pull out the modem as well and switch to WiFi when it's possible, otherwise just leave it off. [milkcow]
I do that with my laptop too but that has a virus in it at the moment so I'm using a pc & pull the plug. [moonchild1au]
I have to turn off my computer in a storm. I cannot imagine what would happen to me if I didn't. I'd kill my computer and probably shock myself. I might lose all of my unsaved info, but it is worth it to save your computer. [p1nkmag1c1an]
I agree with you [moonchild1au]
Yes I switch my computer off as you've said that you don't want to risk frying your computer that's what I'm afraid of frying my computer.. But sometimes it depends on the type of situation.. [valjul26]
This is true too...in mild storms, I hesitate about turning off the computer. [moonchild1au]
HAHA, yeah, i am forced to do so by my parents or else, i would never switch my PC off! [madz13]
lol - i take it you live on your computer like I tend to do [moonchild1au]
No, I will not turn off my laptop during the storm. The chance of getting yout laptop shock is very little, remember we have the lighting conductor in each building? it can 99% protect the damage of lighting. If I were you, i will not worry about it~ [purety]
yeah, but we don't have them in all houses & I'm in a older house too. [moonchild1au]
I don't turn my computer off when is a strom. LOL why need to turn off computer when is storm????? [epikna4o]
in case of a power surge or lightning strike - this can fry just about all your electrical goods however, surge protectors do help to prevent such things. [moonchild1au]
I turn my computer off even though I do have a surge protector for it. We had a bad experience once that wasn't actually storm related. A guy was cutting down a tree and it fell on our house wires and surged right through any surge protector we had, frying everything in the house. I seem to be the only one still paranoid about it to bother with turning all of my things off and unplugging them though. [thenieruz]
both hubby & I turn things off but tend to forget about unplugging lol. [moonchild1au]
Yes, I turn off my PC in a storm. If I see lightning I unplug my PC completely. I work in a PC repair shop and I usually profit from people who do not use a surge protector. [gngtech001]
I can understand why you remember to unplug your computer all the time lol [moonchild1au]
we do. my husband is very strict about that. especially when there is thunder. he said that it will be more hassle if the computer broke down [thebestmom]
I agree with your husband but not too concerned when there's only thunder - I'm more concerned if there is lightning as that's what can do the damage. [moonchild1au]
yes i unplug my computer plugs when there is a storm. actually when there is a storm there is a probability of a large amount of current coming through the electric Poles to your devices and your computer cant withstand it and generally burns out. in order to prevent this i use a surge protector. but still, i unplug the mains [cookiebaker]
I have surge protectors too but I don't know how good they are so I just unplug my computers from them in storms. [moonchild1au]
Hiya moonchild, No one I know turns their computer off they would laugh most likely if I said anything but I will turn it off if there is a strong storm in particular. The phones here are not directly connected with electricity as in England so People tend to think that idea is a bit way out. I stay off mobile phones too and switch them off. One woman was killed by her mobile phone exploding while she was in a Camping and had her phone right by her and switched on. Whether it got wet as well no one really said but even so I think that mobile phones can be a great danger and no one almost no one realises it. I have seen countless people out in very dangerous thunderstorms here with the mobile phone stuck to their ear. If you have your computer in a room that is directly facing the street I would turn it off too as it can blow a fuse as easily as any other electric appliance. We are surrounded by high mountains so I really do take it seriously when there is a Storm on I also avoid using anything metal in the Kitchen too even though I donīt firectly face the Street. We have some very powerful storms here also. [lovinangelsinstead21]
Hiya moonchild, Mobile Phones can get struck by lightning and this is what happened to this Woman who was asleep in a Tent with the mobile right by her on her bed. Her mobile phone was switched on and it got struck and she got killed so this is for real. I didīnt think about that before either but when you think about it it can easily happen specially if you are walking in a big open area or on wet grass and your feet are already wet. My two laugh but this happened on the Coast in Spain somewhere so it would be there somewhere in the News archives of this Country. The amount of People I see carrying their Umbrella with their phone on the other ear is impressive so I hope someone gets to read this out there as your mobile can be lethal in a Storm. If you are in a Car and have a hands free mobile I donīt know if you are more protected or less protected maybe itīs equally as bad as the other. Itīs the same as when People come here to Spain and they go up in the Mountains on the Coast they donīt think you can suffer hypothermia although the weather is extremely warm during the day the temperature drops rapidly at night. They hardly ever think of taking the right clothes. Well thatīs the way things go. Have a great Day all. [lovinangelsinstead21]
i do turn off my computer during a storm, thunder storm to be exact. my reasons is for protection from electric shock and thunder striking down. i just experienced a minor thunder that stroked the internet/broadband antenna (i used wireless broadband before i switched to DSL) of my PC and what happen's to my PC, it is not turning on anymore... i checked it to 3 different computer technician and they have the same conclusion that the antenna of the broadband is the cause of the malfunctioning of my PC (fortunately it is not damaging). and that is lesson learned for me...:) [giechem]
better to be sure...XD [giechem]