I've read this a couple of times, but I CANNOT remember the name or author.
Guy wakes up on his boat after a storm and finds that LOTS of death and destruction has happened. I can't remember if it was a tsunami, or a big meteorite or what. He rescues one girl. Then some family members. There encounter pirates, Russian thugs, and an overprotective government. He has a big dog.
Cabin on an island.
Definitely sounds like Aftershock, though I think his island is on the Canadian side of the border. Never could really pin it down beyond that, as I'm sure dotB intended.
Most of the action takes place on two islands, one is just south of the US/Canadian border (possibly Sucia Island) and the other one is further north and definitely Canadian.
He gave an indication once - in his Yahoo group - as to where one of them was, the US and England came close to going to war over it. The Island was Canadian but an American moved there and claimed it for the US and the US Navy moved to back him up. The Kaiser got involved as a mediator and they eventually redrew the border.
That sounds like San Juan Island. I think the US and England did end up in a very minor shooting war — the last one between them so far. I did wonder when he called one of the islands Pig Island as I'm not aware of a Pig Island in the area, but the war was called the pig war because it started when a pig got loose and, IIRC, damaged some crops on the British side of the island.
Thanks for the clarification.
And the pig was the only casualty. I think the total forces involved was about one company or less for each side.
Aftershock is definitely the correct one! Thanks.
And did you know? The Amarican Commander was Pickett, best known later for Pickett's Charge, at Gettysburg.
Now that you mention it, that rings a bell. It's been a long time since Washington State history!
If you want a fairly detailed explanation of the Pig War, Oversimplified did a (nearly 40 minute) video about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLq6GEiHqR8