Management Issues Identified During Hazard Mitigation Grant Audits In the State of Ohio

We audited Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds awarded to the City of Kettering, Ohio (Report Number DD-09-14), the City of North Royalton, Ohio (Report Number DD-10-7), and the City of Bucyrus, Ohio (Report Number DD-10-09), between March 2009 and April 2010. During these audits, we identified conditions that warranted further examination. OEMA did not always comply with FEMA guidelines when aggregating properties into HMGP projects because FEMA Region V did not enforce its guidelines. As a result, certain properties did 11ot meet HMGP eligibility requirements. Additionally, FEMA and the state did not meet all required project submission and approval timeframes, which delayed the obligation ofproject funds and the implementation of approved mitigation work.