Blackout during thunderstrom: What electronics damages symptoms would one see?

Factual Questions
1

Just had a strong thunderstorm here in central Texas that knocked power out for over 3 hours. Things look back up and running, but I am curious - I have no lightning protection equipment as far as I know of, and so although all the electronics seem to be ok, what would be the symptoms to look out for in terms of computer gear? (i.e., damage to power adapter, laptop itself, etc.) Which components would have fried first from lightning?

2

We’ve had network switches and network pc cards fail that were connected to copper that ran outside a building.

3

Electronics are the most likely to be harmed. IMO
Many more things have electronic controls than ever before … but …
The makers know that few have battery back ups for washing machines, etc…

So Computers and their additional components are the usual causalities.

So…

First, good surge protection with battery back ups for these lines powering your computer, printer, etc.

I have always lived in areas with sketchy power, thunderstorms, people crashing into power poles etc .

I am poor so losing an expensive computer is much more of a problem than protecting it in the first place. So I do this:

At the wall I start with a cheap one line surge protector into a good ($$) surge protector, into a good ($$) battery back-up ( one that uses it’s battery to make the the power to run the equipment. ) or one with a fast reaction time ( less $$ ) and then into the equipment.

We finally got the $$ for a good flat screen TV and I have the same set up for it.

Had thunderstorms last night, lightening, power outages from a flicker to several minutes.
All equipment on and working fine without a problem or flicker, the lights, not so much. Bawahahaha

If power & storms and bad drivers don’t cause you problems or you want to get new stuff anyway, then you don’t need to do what I do.

Had a big strike at about 50 feet from the house and all the protected stuff survived, several other things did not.
YMMV

4

This isn’t the case 100% of the time. But when electronics fail due to voltage spikes and voltage surges, they tend to not work at all.