Damascus has an unusual history. Settled in the 1860s, it incorporated as a city together with Carver in 2004, then voted to disincorporate; after a court fight, the Oregon Supreme Court reinstated that vote in September 2020, and the area is again unincorporated Clackamas County. Oregon Route 212 runs through the original core, Boring lies to the east, and roughly a fifth of residents live in areas the census counts as rural.
Fire & Water Energy operates a referral line rather than a restoration business. Call (866) 937-3230 and we will try to connect you with an independent restoration contractor that works in Damascus and the neighboring communities. Who is available depends on local providers. The how it works page and our referral disclosure lay out what a call to us involves and what it doesn't.
Nine disaster declarations and a long list of county hazards
The area sits at about 712 feet, on the county's northern edge along the Multnomah County line. Clackamas County Disaster Management lists flooding, landslides, wildfire and smoke, winter weather, extreme heat, power outages and public safety power shutoffs among the hazards residents should prepare for, along with earthquakes and volcanoes.
Since 2000 the county has been named in nine FEMA major disaster declarations. They include severe storms with flooding and landslides in 2006 (DR-1632), record snow in 2009 (DR-1824), a 2011 winter storm with mudslides and debris flows (DR-1956), winter storms with straight-line winds in 2016 (DR-4258), the 2020 wildfires and straight-line winds (DR-4562), a severe winter storm in 2021 (DR-4599), winter storms with landslides in 2024 (DR-4768), and severe storms with flooding and mudslides in 2026 (DR-4907).
Leaks, wells and wind-driven rain: water damage restoration in Damascus
On larger semi-rural lots, water damage often starts with something outside the house: a clogged gutter during a long storm, a downed limb that cracks the roof, or runoff that pools around a foundation. Inside, failed supply lines, water heaters and freeze-split pipes during a winter storm are frequent causes, and a power outage can stop a sump pump right when it is needed most.
Contractors offering water damage restoration in Damascus will usually locate the source, pull water out with emergency water removal equipment, measure moisture in floors and walls and dry the structure before any rebuild. Replacing damaged materials later is property damage reconstruction.
Federal disaster declarations that included Clackamas County
FEMA records show Clackamas County was included in 9 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (8 severe storm, 1 fire, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Damascus was affected. The most recent:
- 2026 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4907)
- 2024 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4768)
- 2021 – Severe Winter Storm (DR-4599)
- 2020 – Wildfires and Straight-line Winds (DR-4562)
- 2016 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4258)
- 2011 – Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Mudslides, Landslides, and Debris Flows (DR-1956)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.
Water, fire or storm damage in Damascus?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Damascus property.
Wildfire smoke, ash and house fire cleanup
Clackamas County was part of the 2020 wildfire and straight-line wind declaration, and the county now names smoke as a hazard on its own. Homes at the wooded edges of the area can collect ash on roofs, decks and in attic vents, and fine particles can work into HVAC systems.
After a house fire, a reputable company will usually secure openings, remove burned materials, clean soot from walls and contents, and run filtration and deodorizing equipment. Local fire protection comes from Clackamas County Fire District #1, which has a station in Damascus. More on each stage is under fire damage restoration and smoke odor removal.
Saturated slopes, falling trees and storm cleanup
Landslides, mudslides or debris flows appear in most of the county's storm declarations, which makes ground movement a real concern for properties on or below slopes after weeks of rain. Ice and wind storms like those in 2021 and 2024 can bring down trees and power lines across rural roads.
Before cleanup, look for cracked foundations, shifted soil or leaning trees, and stay away from any line that might be energized. For roof and tree damage see storm damage cleanup; for outside water that has entered living space, flood damage restoration explains why porous materials are often removed.
Mold after a wet winter
Crawlspaces, garages converted to living space and rooms on north-facing walls stay damp longest during the rainy months. If a leak went unnoticed during a storm or outage, mold can begin growing on drywall paper and wood within a couple of days.
The EPA notes that patches under about 10 square feet are often manageable for a homeowner once the moisture is fixed, while larger areas, contaminated water or mold in ducts call for a professional with containment and HEPA filtration. See mold remediation.
Staying safe in Damascus before cleanup starts
- Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas odors or downed wires, and leave if the building or slope looks unstable.
- Sign up for Clackamas County PublicAlerts to get evacuation and hazard notices.
- Run generators outdoors only, far from windows and doors, during outages.
- Record damage with photos and video before removing anything. Insurance terms vary from policy to policy, so speak with your insurer or agent about what is included.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Damascus):
Damascus restoration FAQs
Is Damascus still a city?
No. Voters approved disincorporation in 2016, and the Oregon Supreme Court reinstated that result in 2020, so the area is now unincorporated Clackamas County. For alerts and emergency information, follow Clackamas County Disaster Management.
Where do people in the Damascus area sign up for county alerts?
Clackamas County uses a system called PublicAlerts, and you can register on the county's website. It sends notices about evacuations, severe weather and other hazards. Signing up for more than one contact method helps if power or cell service is spotty.
What should I watch for after a long stretch of heavy rain?
Look for new cracks in walls or the foundation, doors that suddenly stick, and soil or mud moving downhill toward the house. The county lists landslides as a hazard, and several past declarations included mudslides. If the ground appears to be shifting, leave and contact authorities.
Can you also find contractors in Happy Valley, Boring or Gresham?
We try to connect callers with independent contractors across this part of the Portland area, including Happy Valley, Clackamas and Gresham. Availability varies, so call (866) 937-3230 and tell us where the property is.
Restoration guides
- Storm Damage Cleanup
- Water Damage Restoration
- Emergency Water Removal
- Flood Damage Restoration
- Fire Damage Restoration
- Mold Remediation