You should shut all of your windows before a storm hits, but there are a few extra things you should do, too.

There are plenty of old wives’ tales we all heard throughout our lives. You know the ones: Don’t swallow a watermelon seed or an entire watermelon will grow inside your stomach, or that you must wait 30 minutes after eating before going swimming.

While neither of those is actually true, some age-old advice you’ve heard is accurate, and that includes the guidance about unplugging electronics before a thunderstorm. As it turns out, that warning shouldn’t be ignored.

We turned to an electrician to learn what safety precautions you should take before a thunderstorm hits. Here’s everything to know. 

Yes, but certain electronics pose a higher risk than others, such as televisions and countertop kitchen appliances, according to Tom Jameson, residential electrician and owner of AstroWatt Electric. 

If you know a storm is coming, it’s best to unplug large electronics and countertop appliances before it hits to reduce the risk of power surges, which could damage your electrical system. A power surge is when the voltage in an electronic device spikes, and it can occur due to lightning. In extreme cases, a power surge can result in a fire.  

“If the storm is bad enough and power continues to go on and off, it would be safer to just turn the power off to the entire home until the storm is over,” Jameson told CNET in an email, adding that any appliance with a control board “is more susceptible to damage.”

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