In 2061, a small asteroid crashed into South Pacific-Indian Ocean area. The asteroid was just big enough to do massive damage but not big enough enough to be a planet killer. It caused massive death and destruction to the Asian subcontinent and disrupted the weather patterns on a global scale for a few years. These weather disruptions had a devastating effect on many animals worldwide. There was a massive wave of refugees of all kinds away from the devastated areas. Many ended up on the West Coast of North America. Other parts of Asia became 'super-concentrated' with people--due to all the refugees moving about.