ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) - The federal government officially shut down at midnight Tuesday (Sept. 30), and Louisiana residents are bracing for the first signs of disruption.

Roughly 750,000 federal workers nationwide are furloughed, including thousands in Louisiana.

The last prolonged shutdown, in 2018-2019, furloughed more than 6,000 Louisiana federal workers and left many without pay for over a month. How long this one lasts will determine the severity of its impacts.

Among the most immediate effects is the freeze of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) , which provides nearly all flood coverage in Louisiana and is required for federally backed mortgages in flood-prone areas.

The NFIP’s authorization lapses with the shutdown, meaning homeowners cannot purchase new policies, re

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