An 1859 solar storm known as the "Carrington Event" caused a great deal of the havoc around the world. The solar flare electrified transmission cables, shocking technicians and setting their telegraph papers on fire. Northern Lights spread as far south as Cuba and Hawaii, with auroras over the Rocky Mountains so bright, that the glow woke campers who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning. A repetition of the Carrington Event today would cause extensive social and economic disruptions. Power outages would be accompanied by radio blackouts and satellite malfunctions. Telecommunications, GPS navigation, banking and finance, and transportation would all be affected. Some problems would correct themselves with the fading of the storm -- radio and GPS transmissions could come back online fairly quickly. But other problems would be lasting. A burnt-out multi-ton transformer, for instance, could take weeks or months to repair.