I turned my tv on right after a storm and all of the sudden I heard a loud pop. When I turned it back on all I got was sound and a line through the middle of the screen. The screen was black but there was a line running horizontally the length of the screen. But in the line you can still detect movement and color change.

Nikki, June 2005

Frame collapse and from your description, it sounds like the surge blew the top off an electrolytic capacitor in the power supply to the frame output. Especially if the pop was followed by a fishy smell.

If it is just that, it would be a simple and inexpensive repair.

With storm surges it could just as easily take out several components.

Ask an engineer for an estimate, as you may be able to claim off your home contents insurance.

Cobweb, June 2005