La. volunteer fire department ordered to repay FEMA grant

NOLA.com

HAHNVILLE, La. — The Hahnville Volunteer Fire Department was ordered to repay a $71,412 FEMA grant because it could not substantiate overtime costs for work after Hurricane Katrina, according to an audit released Monday. The department repaid the grant last year to the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Repaying the grant contributed to a 17.6 percent increase in the department's annual expenses, from $314,705 in 2011 to $370,234 in 2012, according to the audit, released by the state legislative auditor's office.

Otherwise the audit indicates a financially healthy department with no long-term liability and net assets of $1.9 million.

Full story: Hahnville Fire Department ordered to repay FEMA grant