DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL) – On Tuesday, a press conference took place in the Town of Damascus, where town officials and representatives from various organizations discussed the recovery efforts that have been ongoing since Hurricane Helene struck nearly a year ago.

Chris Bell, the Damascus Town Manager, spoke about the community’s resilience during the storm and how residents managed to recover after experiencing severe flooding.

“Swift rescue teams were in town saving people from their porches or even through windows,” Bell said. “A few local residents took the initiative to grab some rope and rescue a gentleman from his house as water reached waist level.”

Bell highlighted the significance of tourism in Damascus. In addition to caring for residents and businesses, he emphasized that a key goal following Helene was to remove debris and welcome tourists back to support the local economy.

“I’m often complimented by first-time visitors since the flood who are amazed that it happened here,” Bell said. “Our efforts to clean up the town, with new signage, murals, and well-maintained lawns, have been a major priority to ensure Damascus remains inviting.”

Kalen Hunter is with the Virginia Tourism Corporation. She commends both local and state leaders in their efforts to bring tourism back to Damascus.

“They have been crucial, and the administration is very positive about reviving Damascus, along with nearby areas, ensuring resources are available for residents, while also capitalizing on tourism to enjoy the attractions and destinations,” Hunter stated.

She also spoke during the press conference about Damascus’s new tourism action plan, which was adopted by the town council on August 4.

“Outdoor recreation is a huge industry for the Town of Damascus and tourism as a whole,” Hunter said. “We really wanted to focus on how we can diversify the outdoor recreation industry and capitalize on additional assets and events.”

Hunter also said she hopes Damascus continues to recover and says the completion of one other major project should bring tourists into the region.

“Once we can get that asset and that attraction where visitors come from across the world to visit the Virginia Creeper Trail back online, that will be a huge accomplishment for southwest Virginia, for Damascus, for Grayson County and the Town of Abingdon,” Hunter said. “So, I really think that that’s the next step on seeing visitation increase and seeing revenue to continue to increase as well.”

Chris Bell also spoke on the efforts of the US Forest Service to repair the upper parts of the Creeper Trail. He said the Forest Service has received bids from potential contractors, and a decision will be made by the end of the month on which contractor will be chosen.