Power strips protect one outlet. A surge that comes in on the service line hits every circuit in the house at once, and the first things to die are the control boards in the furnace, the fridge and the dishwasher. AAA Electric installs whole house surge protection at the panel in Lockwood, MT in about an hour.
We mount a type 2 surge protective device on a dedicated two pole breaker as close to the main as possible, which is where it works best. Most units have an indicator light so you know when it has taken a hit and needs replacing.