(WTXL) - It's been more than two weeks since the partial government shutdown with no end in sight and WTXL took a look at how the impacts are reaching far beyond Washington D.C. and into our neighborhoods.
A recent study by Wallethub shows that Florida and Georgia currently rank in the top 20 when it comes to states affected by the shutdown, but what's exactly being impacted? The answer could be right outside your window.
The National Weather Service is continuing to inform Floridians, Georgians and the country despite not receiving a paycheck, saying, "In the event of a partial government shutdown, there will be no interruption in National Weather Service forecasts and life-saving warnings on operational websites and the agency's social media platforms."
Another standstill from the shutdown is federal funding to certain programs. Local resource centers and domestic violence shelters are not getting the funding they need.
"We operate on a shoestring budget, we're tiny and we do a lot of stuff and those dollars mean people we're not going to be able to serve," said Michelle Gomez, Executive Directer of the Oasis Center for Women and Girls.
Gomez said in November she applied for a federal grant to fund programs for improving mental health for women in the community, however, due to the shutdown that funding is on hold.
"Several of the grants that we would be eligible for their deadline is in January and February," said Gomez. "So in November we initiated a process, and I was waiting for an email from a federal employee that I'm not going to get."
Gomez said she and her team will now have to find alternate ways to fund those programs.
"When you say the phrase federal government it seems very far away until it's a phone call you need to make or an email you need answered and then you realize that not only do people and agencies in our community need these workers at these jobs, but they are people in our communities," said Gomez.
Traditionally, Congress grants back pay to those federal employees, though not guaranteed for anyone.
According to the Department of Justice, more than 800 federal employees are furloughed or forced to work without pay.
