If this is a desktop PC and you suspect the network adapter is fried then your easiest and quickest option is to buy a new network adapter card - you can get them for less than $20. It sounds unusual that a storm would fry just one network component - if an electrical surge hit your ethernet you would expect other networking components to also have issues. But I have a PC where the ethernert port on the motherboard stopped working so it is not unheard of.
Is it a desktop PC or a laptop. What manufacturer and model? How old? Do you know if it has PCIe slots or PCI slots?
I am guessing it is not a laptop as laptops generally have wifi while desktops don't.