volcanic eruptions

The main focus of this discussion is reference to the Yellowstone Caldera - or "Supervolcano" located mostly in NW Wyoming.  The caldera (actually several overlapping calderas) is roughly 40 miles in diameter within Yellowstone park.  Beneath it lies the largest "supervolcano" on Earth.  For reference, the Mt. St. Helens (located in SW Washington State) erupted in 1980 - leaving only a 2 mile wide crater.  While mostly in an isolated area - away from large populous areas - the resulting ash and gas cloud would devastate much of the United States east of it's position (depending on the jet stream winds).  The jet stream is predominately from west to east.  However, it changes frequently and blows north or south as well.  Ultimately, if the eruption was large enough (and not just a magma flow) - it could affect the entire Earth.  The ash could cause similar effects as a "nuclear winter".

Aside from the personal immediate effects of breathing in ash (and localized devastation) -  the largest concern is the effect on the national supply chain.  Everything about our supply chain for products, medicine, and food is transport based on a national vs. local level and would STOP.  While parts of the country would be able to help provide relief - starvation would wipe out a large portion of the population. 

List of PPE equipment

Will continue to add more as we develop the site.....