Power outages strike without warning, and many assume a shut‑down PC is safe. In reality, even powered‑off computers stay connected to home wiring, exposing them to voltage spikes that occur before and after a blackout. These surges, often exceeding the standard 120 V US household circuit, can permanently damage delicate motherboard, RAM and SSD components.

Sudden power loss while a PC is running also risks file corruption and mechanical harm to HDDs. To protect your system, shut down and unplug the PC (and router) when extreme weather is forecast. A quality surge protector absorbs spikes, while a UPS adds battery backup to prevent abrupt shutdowns and give time to save work.

For whole‑home protection, consider professional surge‑protection installation in the electrical panel. After power returns, wait a few minutes before reconnecting devices to avoid further surge risks.