Final answer:
The Pacific Northwest, particularly Washington State, has the greatest risk of damage from a volcano in North America due to the presence of the Ring of Fire and historic volcanic activity like the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area of the North American continent with the greatest risk of damage from a volcano is the Pacific Northwest, particularly Washington State. This region is part of the famous "Ring of Fire", which includes earthquake and volcanic zones near the boundaries of the Pacific tectonic plate. Specifically, the Cascade Range, where Mount St. Helens is located, poses significant volcanic risks. Mount St. Helens itself erupted in 1980, causing extensive destruction and fatalities. The U.S. Geological Service also identifies the Yellowstone hotspot as an area of potential danger due to its large caldera and history of significant volcanic eruptions, though it is currently not as active as the volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest.