[villagetinker]

I am a retired professional electrical engineer, with 40 years utility experience, here is my humble opinion:

First, there is nothing you can install in or on your home to protect from a DIRECT STRIKE. Lightning protection systems will limit the possibility of a fire, but will do very little for the surge associated with the DIRECT STRIKE. Utilities have equipment that will handle several thousand volts of surge, and device to clamp the surges to much lower levels so their expensive equipment is not damaged.

Second, surge protection is useful for the INDIRECT strike, this is the one that hits nearby, and creates a surge on the incoming power lines. Examples include strikes to the overhead lines outside TV, strives to power poles, street lights, etc, and strikes to trees or buildings close by.

Third, It is very possible to get a potential difference (aka surge) between the cable, the power lines, and any other wiring leaving your house to the outside (landscape lighting, etc.), each of these will have its own 'ground reference', and a nearby strike will effect all of these differently. Local surge suppressors in your house will provide some level of protection for these.

Lastly, if you are really concerned, be sure the surge suppressors are UL listed as SURGE suppressors, there are several companies selling these multiple socket cords as "surge" suppressors when the UL tag is for an EXTENSION CORD.

I hope this helps, and will be glad to provide additional information if requested.

PS, I have the SECO surge suppressor on our house, along with several smaller device inside the house.