Ground enhancement materials are available to permanently increase the conductivity of the soil. Use copper clad ground rods and bronze direct burial clamps. Inc. It is important to periodically ensure that all grounding and bonding is still working. Entropy is real and its effects can be surprising. Types of surge protection include isolation and shunting.
Good grounding is necessary for the shunting process to work.
Optical isolation is used to provide protection up to around 2000 volts. If voltages go above that, optical devices will fail and damage may occur. Optical devices do not shunt excess energy, so they are not sensitive to the length of the surge. Shunting devices work well with short duration, high current situations. Three stage shunting devices are the best.