Hurricane Helene Recovery Strengthens Community in Washington County, VA

Julie Kroll

Southwest Virginia is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, especially in and around Washington County, which is home to the charming and friendly town of Damascus. Known as “Trail Town USA” due to its location at the intersection of seven prominent recreational footpaths, including the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail, the area is one of many tourist destinations that have had to recover and rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Helene in 2024. And while Hurricane Helene recovery has been challenging and arduous, folks involved locally in these efforts say it’s also been incredibly touching and rewarding. 

Helene Recovery a Community Effort 

The remnants of Hurricane Helene hit the area in September 2024. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but nearly 100 homes were damaged or destroyed, as were numerous businesses, bridges, roadways and other public infrastructure services. Also concerning was the damage to the upper 17 miles of the Virginia Creeper Trail, which serves as economic lifeblood for Damascus and the surrounding communities, especially during its peak fall tourism season. 

The Town of Damascus and the community responded immediately, working to rescue and provide shelter to those people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by flooding. In the first month alone, the town estimates 20,000 volunteer hours were logged. Similarly, within the first few weeks of October, a group of concerned citizens came together and launched a Helene recovery nonprofit, Trails to Recovery. 

The organization focuses on three pillars, says board member Olivia Bailey: residential recovery, small business revitalization and the restoration of the Virginia Creeper Trail. To date, Bailey says the organization has raised around $1.9 million toward recovery efforts. Both the town and Trails to Recovery are working to accomplish these goals, and as recovery has progressed, the town has also begun focusing on economic recovery through new initiatives and events to attract tourists. 

Before the town launched new events, though, it had its biggest annual event to contend with: the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, also known as Trail Days. The first major post-Helene event took place in May 2025, and pulling it off was rather monumental, says Julie Kroll, recreation program director for the Town of Damascus. More importantly, though, she says the festival was “much welcomed and celebrated by the community.” No doubt, the return of this beloved gathering stoked the community’s pride and excitement for fresh ways to commemorate the area’s breathtaking outdoors. 

Julie Kroll

Damascus Launches New Events

Kroll emphasizes that a trio of new events – Damascus Trout Days, DAM 200 and the Damascus Festival of Miles – are already proving to be a resounding success. 

These new events also align with the ways she says the town has pivoted its marketing efforts during Hurricane Helene recovery. 

“Although Damascus is best-known for the upper half of the Virginia Creeper Trail in the national forest (which remains closed), we have a wide range of outdoor recreation assets nearby,” Kroll says. “We’ve really leaned into all of our other open assets and worked toward growth within these audiences, especially hiking, biking, fishing and motor routes.” 

These aforementioned events not only showcase the area’s beauty and destination for outdoor recreation, but celebrate Damascus and support Hurricane Helene recovery. 

Several new small businesses have also cropped up in 2025, including a pet store, a clothing store, a fly fishing shop, a pizzeria and two train caboose Airbnbs along the Virginia Creeper Trail. 

Office of the Governor

Better Than Ever 

Because of Hurricane Helene, the Washington County community has become as much a symbol of resilience as it is a destination for outdoor adventures. The town may be fundamentally changed, says Kroll, but thanks to the community, it’s also fundamentally stronger. 

“Every single aspect of Damascus’ recovery has been community-led,” she says. “The community is proud of how far we’ve come over the past year, and we’re ready to keep moving forward. Damascus is open for business, and as our mayor has said so many times over the past year, ‘We’ll be back better than we’ve ever been!’” 

“There are still longer-term [Helene] recovery efforts,” Bailey says. “But for the most part, if you walk through Damascus, it’s hard to tell that a storm came through over a year ago. That’s because of the support and neighbors helping neighbors. It’s a wonderful community. I think we’re coming back bigger and better than ever.”