It missed us by 9 days

Transformers don't blow up because of the CME they blow up because the CME causes electrical potential differences in the ground and transformers are earthed to the ground for safety. If you know a CME is coming (you should get 48hrs notice) you can either remove the earths or deactivate the transformer and it won't be damaged. Also if the transformers in a local grid are in ground that won't get electrical potential differences across the geographical area then they will be fine no matter how big the CME.