Typically, a helium-filled
latex balloon that is released outdoors will stay aloft long enough to be almost fully deflated before it descends to Earth. However, the Balloonfest balloons collided with a
front of cool air and rain, which caused them to drop towards the ground while still inflated. The descending balloons clogged the land and waterways of
Northeast Ohio. In the days following the event, many balloons were reported washed ashore on the Canadian side of
Lake Erie, causing
water pollution. Traffic collisions were also reported "as drivers swerved to avoid slow motion blizzards of multicolored orbs or took their eyes off the road to gawk at the overhead spectacle." A search-and-rescue boat crew tried to spot the fishermen floating in the lake, but Guard officials said balloons in the water made it impossible to see whether anyone was in the lake. On September 29, the Coast Guard suspended its search. The fishermen's bodies subsequently washed ashore. The wife of one of the fishermen sued the United Way of Cleveland and the company that organized the balloon release for $3.2 million, and later settled on undisclosed terms. Balloons landing on a pasture in
Geauga County, Ohio, spooked Louise Nowakowski's
Arabian horses, which allegedly suffered permanent injuries as a result. Nowakowski sued the United Way of Cleveland for $100,000 in damages and settled for undisclosed terms. The fundraiser lost money due to cost overruns. ==Legacy==