“[The Miami Great Hurricane was a] tragedy, indeed! But there were also hopeful and uplifting stories that came out of this disastrous storm.
Karen Dustman says being a lawyer wasn’t as fun as following her passion in finding and writing stories. An author, journalist, and historian, Dustman has written over twenty-five books. Many of her stories are historical non-fiction but she also writes mysteries and time-travel romances.
Lyndi: What are some of the inklings that a natural disaster is about to occur and is this a gift?
Karen: Many of the survivors of Miami’s 1926 “Great Hurricane” described an oppressive heaviness in the air in the hours before the storm arrived, though they had no idea that a mega-storm was on the way. And my husband used to tell his mother “we’re going to have an earthquake” minutes before it hit – and he was right. It does make me wonder how he felt that. Traditional knowledge is also an amazing thing. . . I’ve read that Pacific islanders can decipher waves and currents to help them navigate long distances without modern instruments. Is it a gift or are they reading signs we simply don’t see? I hope someday there’s more study of how the Native people in Florida were able to predict a hurricane approaching in time to reach higher ground.
Lyndi: How do you explain the high loss of life in the town of Moore Haven and on the southern shore of Okeechobee?
Karen: The impact of the 1926 hurricane was even worse at Moore Haven because the storm surge caused the earthen dam at the south end of the lake to fail, releasing a torrent of water that wiped out much of the town just below it. Sadly, the disaster was repeated just two years later with the Okeechobee Hurricane 1928, when the levees failed again. While those early small earthen levees had been constructed with good intentions by locals, it became clear after these two major failures that stronger, better-constructed flood protection was required. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stepped in to help build replacements – part of a widespread positive response to these horrific disasters.
Lyndi: What occurred as the hurricane shifted?
Karen: When the “eye” of the hurricane arrived and the high winds suddenly stopped, not everyone realized that the storm wasn’t actually over. Sadly, many folks left places of shelter to check out the damage; some curiosity-seekers even made their way down to the beach to see the waves. Many of those who did venture out were injured by flying debris or swept away by the waves when the eye passed and the storm returned in its full fury.
Lyndi: In Miami’s Great Hurricane, you share heart wrenching true stories. Would you share one of them with us here?
Karen: One of the most heart-wrenching stories about the storm involved a young mother who tied each of her four children to an inner tube to survive the flooding, linking them together with silk stockings. Two of the children drowned, and the mother eventually realized she had to cut her dead babies loose to save her remaining children. A tragedy, indeed! But there were also hopeful and uplifting stories that came out of this disastrous storm. One of my favorites is about a couple who were supposed to be married the day the storm arrived. The groom battled his way across town to locate his fiancée while the hurricane was raging. Luckily, he found her and hotel staff somehow threw together an impromptu wedding – with the couple exchanging their vows in their bathing suits!
Lyndi: What kinds of things will readers learn about the cleanup after such a storm like the one in your book?
Karen: It’s hard to imagine just how much cleanup there was after this devastating storm! Sand was three to five feet deep in homes and businesses near the shore, and many roads were impassable at first, due to downed trees, power lines, and debris. One of the surprising things to me was how quickly cleanup efforts progressed. Locals boasted that there were no idle men. Everyone jumped in to help clear roadways and get the city back on its feet again.
Lyndi: What other local histories have you shared?
Karen: I’ve written about some of Miami’s early gangsters, grifters, and murderers in “Bad Boys Miami” (there are tales about a few “bad girls,” too!) I’ve written the history of Silver Mountain City, a Sierra Nevada “ghost of a ghost town” (because there’s nothing left standing there today). And I’ve written story after story about western Nevada, which I eventually compiled into a series of three “Forgotten Tales of Carson Valley” books.
Lyndi: You’ve also written several guide books. What are these about?
Karen: Yes, I wrote a 4-volume “walking tour” guide to the historic cemetery at Genoa, Nevada, and smaller walking and driving tour books to various points of interest in Alpine County, California. And I’ve also penned a “how-to” book with helpful guidance for writing a memoir or oral history – because getting your own history down on paper is so important!
Lyndi: How do you make people aware of your books?
Karen: I really love public speaking – both in-person and to groups via Zoom -- whether it’s about the weather disaster of 1926 Miami or stories about little-known historical figures in Miami and elsewhere. I’m excited to be traveling to Miami this October to speak to several historical organizations about the Great Hurricane – and hope to come back again for commemorative events next year, when the Great Hurricane will mark its 100-year centennial!
Karen Dustman is a former prosecutor and the author of over 25 books ranging from non-fiction history to Southern mysteries and time-travel romance. In addition to her books, she has penned more than 200 freelance articles for a wide variety of national, regional, and trade publications.
Karen’s adventurous spirit has swept her along a decidedly off-the-beaten-path career. She’s crewed on a square-rigged sailing ship; ridden cross-country on a motorcycle (one she reassembled herself from a basket case); graduated from UCLA Law School; built and renovated houses; and spent nine years as a criminal prosecutor. But what she loves most of all, Karen confesses, is writing.
Karen’s first book was a how-to on home repair for women, inspired by her own hands-on experience renovating “too many” run-down homes and apartments with a boyfriend. That happy debut landed her on nationwide media, including Discovery Channel, HGTV, Good Day New York, and the Howie Mandel show. Since then, she’s written books about a long-forgotten California ghost town; a helpful how-to book on writing memoir and family history; two fiction series (mystery and time-travel romance); and more. Karen’s latest book (launched in March 2025) shares gripping true personal stories from the 1926 Miami Hurricane, a catastrophic Category-4 disaster, in which her father was a survivor.
These days she’s busy writing a fourth Southern mystery; researching more true stories for future books in her historical “bad boys” series; and wrangling a history blog for her indie imprint, Clairitage Press.
One hundred years ago, an unexpected tempest roared ashore in Miami, leaving destruction in its wake. Through gripping personal stories and rare vintage photographs, this book brings the forgotten hurricane vividly to life. Survivors recount moments of terror, resilience, and hope as they braved the storm's wrath and its aftermath. This devastating event proved to be a watershed moment for Miami, abruptly ending its overheated real estate boom and sending the city spiraling toward the Great Depression.
Blending history with deeply human experiences, this powerful narrative reveals how one devastating day reshaped a city—and the lives of those who endured it. An invaluable resource for Miami enthusiasts interested in exploring the city’s turbulent past, it’s also perfect for history fans, weather buffs, educators, and anyone drawn to stories of survival, courage, and resilience.
https://bit.ly/Miamisgreathurricane
