btw the direct link for the polar images is here:
Northern Hemisphere Enlarged View
This is only a c3 class flare which really isn't that big, they go C to M to X, with X being the most intense. The significance of this is that the flare was pointed directly at earth when it lit off. Usually they are pointed in other areas when they happen so they don't do much.
Now if we were to get a M or God forbid an X class flare pointed at us like this then I'd say get plenty of gas for your generators. You'll be needing them for a few months or a year.... If you think I'm kidding wait. I saw an X3 flare in the last solar cycle wipe out all shortwave stuff for almost a week. Snap crackle pop is all you hear. Those are electrical grid/satellite killers.