Photo: Mayor Pez at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Solon faces less hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Solon gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #349 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Solon’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Solon faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Solon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Solon, and Solon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
A #349 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Solon’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Solon has less expected damage per building than 65% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.4M a year in losses across Solon: $5.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Solon flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Solon, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Solon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cuyahoga County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Solon
Disasters that paid out in Solon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Solon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding517 households applied for aid$685K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding36 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$41K to the City of Solon for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds53 households applied for aid$53K aid approved
Cuyahoga County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Solon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Solon archive →Solon and its neighbors
Solon is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Heights | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Solon | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Moreland Hills | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Reminderville | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Glenwillow | — | 758 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Bentleyville | — | 701 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Solon faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Solon
Is Solon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Solon has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #349 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Solon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Solon since 1979, $383K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Solon in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Cuyahoga County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Solon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Solon’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Solon?
By FEMA money that reached Solon, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding (2006): 517 households applied for aid, $685K approved.
Is Solon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Solon’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Solon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Solon’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.