the Cleveland Balloon Disaster of 1986

[Demovictory9]

A rectangular structure the size of a city block, measuring 250 feet (76 m) by 150 feet (46 m) and rising three stories high, covered with a one-piece net of woven mesh material, was set up to hold the balloons, on the southwest quadrant of Public Square in Cleveland.











https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/cleveland-balloons-1986/

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A number of the balloons landed on a pasture in Medina County, Ohio, which spooked some Arabian horses owned by a woman, Louise Nowakowski and reportedly led to injuries to the horses. Nowakowski subsequently sued United Way for $100,000 worth of damages, and the matter was settled under undisclosed terms.

In the worst consequence to come from the disaster, though, was when the balloons inadvertently impeded a search and rescue of two vanished fishermen. The missing men, Raymond Broderick, and Bernard Sulzer had been reported missing the day the event had taken place. Although their 16-foot boat was located anchored west of the Edgewater Park break wall, the Coast Guard search and rescue crews were not able to find them. Since there were so many balloons scattered around, rescuers couldn’t distinguish between a balloon or a person.

On September 29, the Coast Guard suspended its search, and the bodies of both men subsequently washed ashore days later. The wife of one of the men later sued United Way of Cleveland and the company that organized the event, a suit that was settled on undisclosed terms. In the end, the event did lead to a new world record being broken, but it didn’t go off without a hitch. If there’s one thing this tragic event proved, was that even the most harmless of actions, and the best of intentions could lead to a disastrous outcome.

The event was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt, but the balloons drifted back over the city, Lake Erie, and landed in the surrounding area, and caused problems for traffic and a nearby airport.


https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/cleveland-balloons-1986/

[Skittles]

1. I find it astounding anyone thought this was a good idea

[lagomorph777]

14. Another Ohio disaster occurred when WKRP in Cincinatti released live turkeys from a helicopter.

[AwakeAtLast]

15. *snort*

[scuciti]

2. People are blind to the iimpacts

The reason I think this is such a compelling story is that its a parallel for much of modern political issues. People seem incredibly blind to the impacts of their actions. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

[Layzeebeaver]

3. A senseless waste of precious helium

[LastDemocratInSC]

9. You are correct.

[LizBeth]

4. And my first thought was holy moly the environmental harm. We totally see differently today then we

Did in 1986. As cool as that all works it’s horrible.

[Demovictory9]

7. me too. imagine how many animals swallowed balloons from this event. truly awful

they should have known better in 1986

[Earthshine2]

5. These pictures made me think of end of the movie "The Red Balloon."

That's when all the balloons break out.

My mother took me to see that movie multiple times as a kid. She thought it would help to instill some morals in me.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Yeah, me too.

?itok=7dg78mSF

[Arkansas Granny]

8. I don't understand why balloon releases of any size are not considered as littering.

What goes up, must come down.

[Layzeebeaver]

10. It should be considered illegal with serious criminal charges for organisations and individuals

From a strategic resource conservation perspective
From an environmental pollution perspective
From a fauna poisoning perspective

This shit makes me angry, even if I don't remember it happening in the first place.

1986... Hmmm... 4 years into my first marriage, still in college, listening to vinyl, actually had hair... Other memories are not to be publicly discussed. Although Helium was not a thing back then, it was cannabis and Laughing gas. But I digress...

[Layzeebeaver]

12. however, if the kept them in the netting and attached a lounge suite underneath...

There are a few personalities from the 1980's that should have been carried aloft to their ultimate demise.

Can we name a few?

[roamer65]

11. Never knew about that one.

Really dumb move.

[Demovictory9]

13. me neither... it randomly appeared at the bottom of a news feed