NORFOLK, Va. — As the federal government shutdown extends from days into weeks, a subset of first responders in the military-heavy region of Hampton Roads is feeling the emotional and financial burden.

Tim Welsh, the elected president of IAFF Local F-25, spoke to 13News Now and acknowledged the difficulties of the federal government shutdown among the labor union's roughly 300 members.

"When the government shutdown image comes on the TV, and it’s a picture of Washington, D.C., that’s not really the shutdown. It’s affecting the people here in your local communities on those federal facilities," Welsh said.

The Tidewater Federal Firefighters union helps staff roughly a dozen military installations in coastal Virginia, including Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Weapon

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