"I am." Unfortunately, the newness seems to have sidetracked from the question he had. It's probably fairly obvious that he's new here. He definitely seems as unfamiliar with what's going on as he actually is. And to think that there's been so much destruction - he just has to make sure it wasn't some sort of tragedy.

"A time like what?"

Presumably, whomever brought him here thought it as the right time regardless as to whatever was going on in the world. How unfortunate and irresponsible.