Three years after millions of people--some 2% of the world's population--vanished into thin air, residents of Mapleton, NY weigh the pros and cons of a 'Heroes Day' tribute to the local 'Departed.' Attempting to maintain a sense of normalcy in his strained community, police chief Kevin Garvey faces additional challenges at home.
In the wake of a series of disturbing encounters, Kevin pays a visit to a therapist. Tom finds himself in a precarious situation with Christine, a favorite of Wayne's. A frustrated Meg is asked to part with pieces of her past. Jill and Aimee tail Nora Durst, who became a local celebrity when her entire family disappeared in the Departure.
In the face of dwindling church attendance and threats on his life, the Rev. Matt Jamison continues to preach his gospel: that many who disappeared in the Departure were sinners and not saints. Matt's campaign is detoured when he learns he may lose the church to foreclosure, forcing him to launch a desperate, last-minute plan to come up with the cash to keep it.
A holiday display goes wanting, sending Kevin scurrying to find out who is responsible. Tom and Christine run into trouble at a hospital and on the road. Kevin retrieves a surprise detainee from a neighboring police station, and receives some unexpected visitors at home. The Guilty Remnant puts their stamp on the holiday season.
Nora takes care of some unfinished business in Mapleton before heading to New York for the Second Annual DROP conference (Departure Related Occupations and Practices). Agitated that her ID has been pinched, Nora, wearing a 'Guest' badge, scours the convention for her imposter, and ends up getting detoured by an amorous salesman, a best-selling author, and a rogue attendee.
Kevin fears he's losing touch with reality after finding himself, inexplicably, in a difficult situation involving Patti Levin, a leader of the Guilty Remnant. Meg loses control during another encounter with Matt; Jill confronts Aimee about her relationship with Kevin; Nora stands up to Laurie, and finds her privacy invaded.
Jarden, Texas was renamed 'Miracle' after it was discovered no one departed. Among the local families is the Murphys: the father, John, the mother, Erika, and their twins, Evie and Michael. Meanwhile, Kevin Garvey, Nora Durst and Jill Garvey show up in Miracle to start over, but Kevin cannot seem to escape his past.
In the midst of an earthquake, Nora awakens to find Kevin missing and her hopes of safety in their new town dashed. The Murphys are left reeling after Evie's disappearance. Kevin returns home but without his memory of the night before or his cell phone, which would link him to the missing girls. Meanwhile, an old enemy makes her return in an unexpected way.
Rev. Matt Jamison takes his vegetative wife Mary outside of Miracle to seek answers about her condition. But their lives take a dangerous detour when Matt is barred from returning to town. Matt races to get Mary back into Miracle while struggling to keep her safe from desperate tourists who are squatting just outside Miracle's gates.
Three years after Miracle, Texas was overrun by the Guilty Remnant, Kevin Garvey has returned to his role as chief of police. Although he seems to have moved past the incredible events surrounding his "resurrection," the Seventh Anniversary of the Sudden Departure is just two weeks away and many believe another apocalyptic event may come with it.