SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The U.S. Government shutdown has been ongoing for almost three weeks.
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Politicians in Washington can’t agree on legislation to fund the government. According to the latest numbers from the Office of Personnel Management, there are just shy of 9,000 civilian federal workers in South Dakota impacted by the shutdown.
In South Dakota, the EROS Data Center, located near Garretson, is one of the most significant federal civilian operations, employing more than 600 people. They are involved in scientific research and data management.
EROS workers utilize information from satellites and aircraft to monitor land changes, conduct natural resource assessments, and inform disaster response efforts worldwide.
Usually, the parking lot is full of cars, but today it is empty. The workers are home, not earning a paycheck. Dr. David Ermer notes the fact that employees have no control over their future can be unsettling. With that, he says self-care is essential.
“I always tell people, it’s easy to do self-care skills when you are doing well,” Ermer said. “I think that’s when you really want to start doing them, is exercise and get enough sleep when things are going well, so when times get rough, you have those skill sets available to you, even doing things for other people when you are feeling in a very difficult situation, going to help others can really be fulfilling.”
Air traffic controllers at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport and other airports are working, but they aren’t getting paid.
“How long can you go without a paycheck? Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck,” said Steph Winder of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. “People might have to consider taking second jobs, to put food on the table, to put gas in their car so that they’re able to go to work.”
Ermer says uncertainty can have a significant impact on a person’s mental health.
“If it gets to the point where you are struggling with pretty serious not feeling good, not sleeping, hopeless, it gets the the point where you cant do it on your own counseling is available,” Ermer said. “It would not be unusual for somebody in this situation to need to see a counselor because it is very stressful supporting yourself and your family and that financial piece is huge.”
Ermer suggests avoiding internet discourse and focusing on hobbies or completing those inexpensive projects.
Some companies and organizations are willing to provide financial assistance to federal workers. Some banks are offering interest-free loans to help with daily expenses. And companies like Verizon are offering to let federal workers defer their bills until they get their paychecks.
