If you go back to 1859,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859
THIS one would probably hurt if it happened in our technological world today. Fortunately, records in Antarctic ice show that it might have been a 1-3 in 1000 year event. Meaning, it might happen in a few hours, or not for at least several hundred years.
True. At one time, I thought maybe that technology has come far enough to compensate, but then considering that auroras were seen in Hawaii & (I can’t remember if it was Cuba or) Puerto Rico- obviously the Carrington event was even stronger than Nov 2003.
Life is perilous & freak things happen.
God Is Good.