The early years of the 20th century were a time of tremendous growth for the City of Miami, which mushroomed from a mere 1,600 at the turn of the century to 5,400 just a decade later. That staggering growth increased still further over the following decade, which saw the city’s population skyrocket to 30,000 souls, with no signs of slowing. However, Nature has a way of counteracting such population surges.

In September of 1926, the Great Miami Hurricane made landfall. The “Big Blow,” as it was known, was one of the worst hurricanes on record, anywhere in the world. It caused an estimated $100 million dollars in damages (more than a billion dollars in today’s money), and left in its wake a death toll of nearly 400, though exact figures are impossible, since many of the victims were simply reported missing and never recovered.

Changeling lore holds that the storm was, if not caused by, was certainly influenced by the Others, who rode the shrieking winds on steeds of rain and lightning, snatching up the unwary and the unlucky and spiriting them away. Scattered journals of artists, psychics, and other “sensitives” report visions of a titanic figure dancing through the heart of the storm, with thunderous footfalls and flashing eyes.