Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi Needs Assistance to Ensure Compliance with FEMA Public Assistance Grant Requirements

At the time of our audit, Mount Carmel Baptist Church (Mount Carmel) did not have adequate policies, procedures, and business practices to account for and expend FEMA grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. Although the disaster occurred in 2013, Mount Carmel had not begun work to repair any of its damaged facilities and, therefore, had not incurred any costs for disaster-related work. In addition, Mount Carmel may lack the financial stability to meet the required 25 percent non-Federal cost share for the grant award. Finally, a Mount Carmel affiliate did not always comply with Federal grant requirements for a past Federal grant it received from another Federal agency. Therefore, FEMA should place special award conditions as needed on Mount Carmel though additional requirements.