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If a Super-Volcano goes off, it it absolutely a world-wide disaster or is there degrees of bad we can hope for?
"World wide" and "Super Volcano" are terms used by the media to spread fear and sell advertising. Even the smallest eruptions have an effect, but it is, as Jerry says, a matter of degree.
I watched the St. Helens eruption from Tacoma, about 100+ miles away. We did get a light scattering of ash, enough to see on leaves and the roof of cars, but not significant. Months after St. Helens, I walked in the ash piles and watched the river being dredged to the west of the mountain. Years later, the plant and wildlife have returned. You have to know what to look for to see evidence of the eruption (yes, the mountain lost it's top...), some roads just don't go through anymore, a couple of communities are buried and dead trees stick up through ash beds.
The ash from events like Yellowstone does get carried around the world, and weather is effected, again a matter of degree. You can look up maps which show where the ash from prior eruptions is found, which gives you a good idea of where to avoid.
How long will the weather be effected? Anywhere from a few days to many months. Again, do some research online to find reports on how larger eruptions effected world weather patterns.
Eruptions are not events which give me any discomfort or fear. My fear comes from how the people nearer the volcano and in the path of the wind carried ash, will react. This is what I prep for.
With modern technology (mostly radio news), We are given adequate warning before an eruption. Some of the time, it doesn't even happen... But if your comfort level is telling to you move away from the immediate area, then by all means do go. We are talking about days and weeks of warning, not hours or minutes. You have time to pack and not panic.
Got your umbrella?
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