I'm not a linemen but I do not believe that a lightning hit would make it to the house system unless it was on the power-line between your house and the street transformer, but that section is insulated (code) and so the chance of a hit there is small.
I need to revise this. When I say the strike probably wont make it to the house I mean the high voltage spike, not the surge that normally kills electronics.
A disturbance in the line from most events will not make it across the open contacts of a switch. In my experience with electrical and electronic equipment in an industrial setting, we never had equipment damaged by power events unless it was on. Remember that most newer electronic equipment is on even when turned 'off' .
I had to chuckle (nicely and without malice) at your response because it is based on an urban assumption. I live on a large farm with lines that go across open fields. It is not unusual for lightning to cause a major surge. In may case with old lines and old wiring I think a major surge would have no problem at all jumping that little gap. Plus my shop is at the other end of the farm away from my house. I am not a lineman either which gives me a good idea. I will ask my local lineman if i should anticipate a possible problem. Yep, we are so rural I know the lineman.