The Waffle House Index and Hurricane Preparedness

The Waffle House Index serves as an informal gauge of disaster impact in the southeastern United States, particularly during hurricanes. It utilizes a color-coded system to indicate operation status: green signals normal operations, yellow suggests limited menu offerings due to power issues, and red means the restaurant is closed. This system became particularly relevant as Hurricane Milton approached Florida, prompting discussions about its effectiveness as a disaster preparedness tool. The closure of local Waffle Houses was seen as a bad omen, emphasizing the seriousness of the storm's impact on the community.