There are parallels to the pandemic here. Society is underprepared for this rare event. The key difference is that there's not much we can do about a mega-erupt

There are parallels to the pandemic here. Society is underprepared for this rare event. The key difference is that there's not much we can do about a mega-eruption. We can setup early warning systems, we can create shelters. Other than that, a future mega-eruption could disrupt our way of life and our best option after the event is to rebuild and move on. I'm derailing the conversation towards COVID here, but I think there's an important wider point. Part of what makes the pandemic so psychologically painful is that as a civilization, we're just on the cusp of being able to handle it. - We have effective vaccines! -- but they lose effectiveness quickly due to COVID's evolution and we cannot approve new vaccines quick enough due to misregulation - We have effective treatments! -- but we can't make them fast enough - We have effective non-pharmaceutical interventions! -- but they are poorly adhered to - We have effective tests! -- but they are not widely available With a mega-eruption, there's not much we can do. We stand back and watch nature in awe.