The disaster: a wave, the result of global warming, wreaks havoc in the year 2050. As the wave travels along, terrifying and apocalyptic emergency response procedures in all countries have automatically been set in play. In the United States, all infrastructure is paralyzed: power, transportation, communications systems, banking. After the president's plane goes down, the government is in shambles. The people: President Benjamin Albion and his artist wife, Ariana. The president's loyal press secretary, Pete, and his girlfriend Evie. A teacher, Ingrid, and her secretive lawyer husband, Adam. Pete's survivalist father, Matt, trying to gather competent people together at his farm in Vermont. The American pope, and the threat of theocracy.