I just want to pile onto everything else that's been said. There is a company that can protect your home with grounded lightning rods. They are Loehr Lightning Protection. Don't know anything about the costs, but they have been around for years. In addition to several area churches, I know they did Bruce Hornsby's house in Williamsburg. Pam Dummitt -----Original Message----- From: Al Warfield [mailto:warfield101@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 11:06 AM To: va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [va-richmond-general] Re: A warning about storms Wendy and others interested, We are using a cable connection to the internet, and have found the following the hard way: Always unplug the modem (and router if you have one) at the first thought of a thunderstorm, or if you will be away for any length of time. If you also have a phone line modem, unplug the line. Turn off the computer (s) and unplug from wall. We use an APC backup unit on our desktops, so that has not always been needed, but in case of a direct hit, may be a good idea. If you loose a program after a storm, try running Scandisk. Files can be damaged if the programs are left running during a storm. It doesn't even have to be very close. Comcast couldn't figure out how to get us back running, but after running Scandisk, the internet worked again. If the motherboard is fried, try going to a local computer store and get them to rebuild your computer. They can use many of the existing parts, and it will be much better than one that you would get from Dell, Compaq., etc., for more money. Al Warfield ----- Original Message ----- From: <WEalding@xxxxxxx> To: <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 8:06 AM Subject: [va-richmond-general] A warning about storms > Not strictly a birding topic but relates to online usage. The severe > thunderstorms in Chesterfield yesterday afternoon resulted in lightning > strikes to our house and a tree within 30 feet. The lightning hit the phone > line and blew the phone jack connector across the room, but not before it > fried two desktop computers and a printer. The only reason I am able to send > this story is that our portable was not connected. Moral of the story is that > it is not enough to turn off and unplug a computer during a thunderstorm, you > should also disconnect it from the phone line. Also remove any backup > floppies or zip disks from their drives. My backup zip disk with 30,000 plus > birding records and all our banking records was in the zip drive at the time. > We were eventually able to eject the zip disk by connecting the drive to the > second desktop that still at least has power although it won't boot up, but > we still don't know if the data is OK. > > Wendy Ealding > > > You are subscribed to VA-Richmond-General. To unsubscribe, send email to > va-richmond-general-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. To adjust other settings (vacation, digest, etc.) please visit, //www.freelists.org/list/va-richmond-general. > You are subscribed to VA-Richmond-General. To unsubscribe, send email to va-richmond-general-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. To adjust other settings (vacation, digest, etc.) please visit, //www.freelists.org/list/va-richmond-general. ************************************************************************** The information transmitted herewith is sensitive information intended only for use by the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from your computer. You are subscribed to VA-Richmond-General. To unsubscribe, send email to va-richmond-general-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. To adjust other settings (vacation, digest, etc.) please visit, //www.freelists.org/list/va-richmond-general.