I vaguely recall sometime not too far before 911 where business and residences along the main road that the Lab is located on -- but much further south on this road -- had their computers and other electronics fried for some reason that went unexplained as far as I remember (this was before 911, so people were not paying as close attention to the matter, including me). It was a mystery in the local papers and I recall that the folks affected were demanding compensation from the county government and/or the power company. I don't know how or if the incidences were ever explained or compensated. Perhaps it was a power spike (right, _Jim?) or -- he he -- a tesla toy mistake?!
MORE likely a primary to secondary 'short' on a power transformer (it can and *does* happen on a not too regular basis) than *any* sort of 'EMP' like device.
computer fried "power company" -kentucky -stir
returns a lot of personal accounts of computers getting 'fried' by Ready Kilowatt from the wall outlet ....