Dear diver dan,

So the answer to my question is?

SR.

Your question is not one to be asked.
If you bracket V17 and V18 together, it forms a statement...not a question.

Gods plan was to begin with Abraham at this time, the development of the twelve tribes of Israel. Prior to this point in time, there was no Jewish nation.
The preceding verses were the conception story of how this event was to begin.

There were only three people from the doomed cities worthy of escape. Lot and his two daughters.

This development was to be a work of God from the righteous seed of Abraham onwards. Gods plan for the development of a just and righteous nation in his name etc.

What I thought might interest you more, was the physics behind the event. There is good evidence of when and how this phenomenal event occurred. Read it.

Dan