Ike rears his ugly head

Hurricane Ike, though thousands of miles away, reared his ugly head over Northeast Ohio.

Whether or not Saturday's rain event was connected to Ike, the rain machine started churning Saturday morning sprinkling the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure runners and walkers with a steady spray. However, Ike did not dampen anybody's spirit or turn anyone away from this great cause, which turned out to be a huge success!

The rain continued delaying the start of Game 1 of the Cleveland Indians double header with the Kansas City Royals (which ironically had been rained out the first time!)...

At times, it looked like it would never stop.

Then the skies cleared, the sun actually poked through, and in normal Cleveland fashion, the humidity machine began cranking out the balmy high heat.

Everyone thought we were out of the woods. Sunday morning began beautifully! Even into Sunday afternoon, what a treat!

Ominous skies loomed above starting around 430pm Sunday afternoon.

The winds began whipping around, lifting everything in its wake.

Small trees, limbs, patio furniture, porch mats, garbage cans, small dogs, hats....

Everything not nailed down went swirling through the skies.

And yet, no rain yet, we thought just maybe we were gonna scoot by partially unscathed.

Around 830pm or so the skies opened and the rains finally came, as the heavy winds continued.

It was quite a sight to see military personnel at Cleveland Browns Stadium trying to unfurl a huge Cleveland Browns flag and then a huge American flag, both blowing uncontrollably in the wind with their hats flying off and the flag holders literally getting tossed around in the wind bowl.

The punters and field goal kickers had no idea where the ball would wind up after it left their toe...same for the quarterbacks....and unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Steelers weathered the storm a bit better than our Browns.

After the game, on the trek home and all day Monday, the wrath of Hurricane Ike could be seen for miles and felt by thousands and tens of thousands of Ohioans.

We have quite a road ahead of us in the days ahead cleaning up and recovering from Hurricane Ike.

Channel 3 has dozens and dozens of sidebar stories which will keep us busy over the coming week including cleanup, power restoration, making up cancelled school days, caring for the elderly and sick, insurance claims, the mad dash for dry ice, batteries, water, coolers and anything else that will help cope....

Ironically, I heard from Kenneth Joseph, CEO and Chief Paramedic for EMT Ambulance, Inc., whose services were requested down in Texas. He said while they are working down south, his dispatch center up here was hit taking out power until at least Sunday. His house was also hit by the remnants of Hurricane Ike in Carrollton County. He sent in a picture of his little girl and her playhouse which even had the roof blown off!

(Photo Courtesy Kenneth J. Joseph)

Seriously folks, when all is said and done, this is nothing compared to our fellow Americans down in Texas.

Stay with Channel 3 News and wkyc.com for the latest information on Hurricane Ike's local effects on Northeast Ohio and how you can cope.