Hail Slams Northeast Ohio, Damaging Homes in Solon

Insurers may push back on full roof replacements despite extensive damage, experts warn.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:53am

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A vast, majestic landscape painting depicting a Midwestern town shrouded in a heavy hailstorm, with the physical structures of homes and buildings dwarfed by the swirling, ominous clouds and sheets of ice falling from the sky, conveying the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural disaster.A severe hailstorm batters a Midwestern town, exposing the vulnerability of residential infrastructure to the growing threat of extreme weather.Cleveland Today

A severe hailstorm hit parts of Northeast Ohio on Wednesday, causing significant damage to homes in the Solon area. Windows were shattered, siding was punctured, and roofs sustained major damage that will require extensive repairs. Roofers in the region have been inundated with repair requests, but insurance companies may resist fully replacing damaged roofs, potentially leading to lengthy restoration timelines.

Why it matters

Hailstorms can cause widespread and costly damage to residential properties, often leading to disputes between homeowners and insurance providers over the extent of necessary repairs. This event highlights the challenges that Northeast Ohio residents may face in recovering from severe weather events that are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

The details

The hailstorm on Wednesday produced two-inch hail, the largest seen in the Cuyahoga County area in six years. Ricky Campopiano, the owner of Campo Roofing, said his company received over 1,000 repair requests, primarily from homeowners in Solon. Campopiano noted that nearly every roof he inspected had visible damage that would require full replacement, but insurance companies sometimes push back on covering the full cost, instead wanting to only replace a portion of the roof.

  • The hailstorm occurred on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • Ricky Campopiano said his company started receiving repair requests as soon as they opened for business on the day after the storm.

The players

Ricky Campopiano

The owner of Campo Roofing, a local roofing company that has been inundated with repair requests following the hailstorm.

Ohio Law

Requires insurance companies to fully replace roofs if new shingles do not match the color or quality of the existing ones.

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What they’re saying

“Pretty much every roof that I looked at [Thursday] had damage that you could see from the ground. It was a no-brainer, it has to get replaced.”

— Ricky Campopiano, Owner, Campo Roofing

“A lot of the times companies don't want to replace all of the shingles, they just want to replace a facet or two.”

— Ricky Campopiano, Owner, Campo Roofing

What’s next

With so many homes damaged across northeast Ohio, repairs could take months or even years, depending on how bad the damage is, according to Campopiano.

The takeaway

This hailstorm event highlights the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events in Northeast Ohio, as well as the ongoing challenges homeowners face in navigating insurance claims and obtaining full coverage for necessary repairs. The situation underscores the need for proactive measures to strengthen residential infrastructure and improve disaster preparedness in the region.