Mercer Co. commissioners OK disaster declaration to seek aid

MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners have signed a "declaration of disaster" because of flash-flooding damage from July storms, now expected to exceed $2 million.
That's just the loss to public property such as roads, bridges, culverts and waste treatment plants. There is no estimate of private property losses from flooded basements, downed trees or other damage.
The disaster declaration is a first step in seeking financial help from the state and federal governments to pay for repairs and cleanup.
James Thompson, county public safety director, said the July 21 storms did more than $1.5 million in damage to county public property.
Basement flooding and wind damage to private property was also widespread in the county, Thompson said, estimating there were about 700 cases of basement flooding.
The problem with that type of loss is that it is usually uninsured, and in the absence of extensive structural damage, can't be considered in seeking assistance from federal disaster aid programs, he said.
A second round of storms that passed through the county Sunday did more than $500,000 in additional damage to public property, Thompson said.
Assessment continues with re-evaluating areas damaged again because of those storms, he said.