network switch ports damaged after storm

[imported_itr]

i came back from a 3 day vacation and found one of my computer's nic is not working. i've tried using a different switch, different patch cable, etc. so i decided to install a new nic and it worked. what caused the nic to suddently stop working? i think we lost electricity for a little while we were on vacation. i think that's what caused it. furthermore, the port that was previously connected to the broken nic seems to be messed up. the port light stays lit even though there is not cable attatched to the port. i've tried resetting the switch and it still did not fix the problem. any clue what's going on? how can i prevent this damage from happening again?

 

[Slowlearner]

This happens to us in Florida all the time - usually a power surge usually following lightning strikes. And the power surge came in thru the cable/dsl line not your household power supply. You need to invest in a good quality surge suppressor with coax/network protection - you need one or other not both. Compusa has one for 21$

 

[spidey07]

I'd make sure your entire house is well grounded to a single location.

Any and all wire coming into or going out of the building should be grounded. phone, cable, antenna, etc.

Otherwise maybe a surge strip could help, although if the house gets hit by lightning you never know what you're gonna lose.