My guess is the kooky scientist who predicted the event. Kind of an "I'll show them not to believe in Global Warming!"

Rewatching from the beginning because the wife walked in during the last episode and got hooked. Just realized the most unrealistic thing in the series so far. A big ass helicopter with enough lift to haul a bulldozer through a tunnel but nobody's hair so much as twitches.

Not sure I can watch the last episode now. Ruined.

ETA: was being sarcastic but to be serious did they ever explain why Collins' dad said "they" wouldn't let agent Collins fly for a living? Not sure if I missed something or if it is a hanging thread still.

I think he mentioned bad eyesight as the reason.

Sinatra saying something doesn't make it true. She tends to tell lies, so that could be the case again.

The kooky scientist will definitely play more of a role somehow if I had to guess, I'm just not sure how. Perhaps as a pissed off survivor?

All the Whitehouse staff that got left behind, especially that one lady who wanted help for her daughter, are definitely going to pop back up again as pissed off survivors.

I think season 2 will be the Paradise folks vs. the survivors. I think we'll see enemies be forced to become allies, and former loved ones & friends become enemies.

My original thought was Xavier's wife. Not so sure though now.

The Air Force has had the Cheyenne Mountain complex for decades (built during the Cold War). Most of the things you are asking were solved back then.