Mercer County Commissioners declared the county a disaster area Tuesday as a result of July 21 flooding that caused significant damage to roads, bridges, culverts and wastewater-treatment plants.

"This has just been relentless," Commissioner Olivia M. Lazor said, adding the declaration serves as a triggering mechanism for state and federal officials, who could then possibly declare their own emergencies and open the door for financial assistance.

"We're declaring an emergency so hopefully we can access some federal and state dollars to help these individuals and communities," she said.

Damage estimates are expected to exceed $1.5 million for county municipalities, according to a news release issued Tuesday by Director of Public Safety James R. Thompson.

Basement flooding and wind damage to private property have been widespread, Thompson said, estimating that for each of the more than 100 reports of basement flooding to which emergency crews were dispatched, six more cases were managed by residents themselves and went unreported.

Thompson said the real problem with basement flooding is unless there is also extensive structural damage to the house, most homeowner's policies don't cover it. And it can't be considered when seeking federal disaster assistance.