Irene in Etobicoke

Here is the story I was told. Picture Saturday May 8, 2010 stormy weather with 70+ km winds with just a bit of drizzle. The lights go out. The electrical panel has made a sound as if 100 breakers just went off. Outside the window, blue flashes seen repeatedly...as if lightning was striking one after another. Finally when outside, see the wires across our lawn and on the driveway. Told the transmitter has blown just where a large branch from two (2) houses north has fallen onto the wires. Then two(2)houses south,the electrical pole is on fire and blue coloured electrical surges are going along the side of that house south of us ... one blue flash after another blue flash. Once the fire and police vehicles all arrived he was directed to get back in the house (no staying outside nor driving the car out of driveway).When hydro completed it's work,could switch the electric panel breakers back on. The power worked everywhere! Checked out the lamps(4)/electronic equipment/all the brand new light fixtures recently installed(15+4 from before)/stove top/washer/dryer/electrical outlets,sockets in house/in garage/outside - all switched on successfully - all worked EXCEPT the green light on the surge protector. The surge protector had fried! The surge protector was in smoke! We thank Frank/Mike/Joe and all those that worked on our house! We thank Frank that the surge protector was highly recommended and that we agreed. In this day and age of stormy weather, not one household should be without one! We thankyou in providing us peace of mind. We surely would have been distraught if most of our electrical items had been damaged. In the neighbourhood one homeowner not only lost a number of electrical components but a flood resulted when the electric power surged causing the main water pipe to explode. Their basement flooded. We are blessed that the surge protector prevented the costly stress and repairs the neighbour must go thru now. We only had to have the surge protector replaced, and this is what Joe did today, Tuesday May 11!