BUTLER TWP — With the purpose of improving disaster prevention and disaster response in Western Pennsylvania, Congress passed a bill Dec. 19 that delivered $1.5 million in federal funds to the area.

Butler County Community College received $1.2 million of the sum for its Evacuation Crisis Management Training program.

BC3 will use its money to begin a proposed Evacuation Crisis Management Training program and for the creation of a disaster command center.

"There is a need to communicate more effectively between first responder agencies. On top of that, we'd like to include our municipal workers," said Stephen R. Catt, director of planning and external relations.

He said the training program would teach first responders, such as firefighters, police officers and EMS crews, to coordinate actions more effectively in a crisis. It also would strengthen lines of communication with PennDOT and utilities.

"We're hoping this is effective enough that it can be a model for our nation," Catt said.

He said the disaster command center would be integrated into existing facilities and could be used as a staging area for agencies such as FEMA and the American Red Cross in case of a disaster in the Erie or Pittsburgh areas.

He said the triumphs and mistakes of emergency management in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and in New York after Sept. 11 were used as examples for this program.

Initially, BC3 only requested $300,000 from Congress, but through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Phil English, R-3rd, an extra $900,000 was added.

"I don't know what magic was there, but we're very thankful," Catt said.

He estimated that BC3's projects will cost $7 million.

Also, the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Chicora Bridge Safety Improvement project received about $245,000.

The railroad, which runs for about 15 miles north of Butler and serves three industry plants, will use its money to replace six wooden bridges along the Petrolia Branch line.

The line is used to move chemicals and petroleum to and from the Sonneborn, Indspec Chemical and Penreco plants.

Each bridge will cost about $2 million to replace, according to Dave Collins, president of the railroad.