Skip to main content

Experts: Unplug electronics before the storm

By WTOP Staff

Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – With severe thunderstorms expected, there are some ways to protect your home and personal electronic devices.

The easiest and most effective way is to unplug them.

While electricians and home electronics experts normally recommend plugging devices into a power strip with a UL listing rated for surge protecting, that’s not foolproof during powerful storms.

Power surges can occur from lightning strikes or downed power lines, affecting computers, cable modem boxes and telephones.

Charging smartphones also are at risk.

Turning off the device isn’t enough, say the experts. Only unplugging the power strip removes the danger.

Computer experts always recommend backing-up data, and say an impending storm makes it even more important.

Follow Neal and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

By WTOP Staff
WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
Read Next Story

Related News

Cards, gifts cross religious lines

Mind your mouth: How oral health affects overall health

5 questions to ask before buying a winter home