The Waffle House Index: A Surprising Indicator of Storm Severity

The Origins of the Waffle House Index

The Waffle House Index (WHI) was conceived by William Craig Fugate, the former head of the Florida Department of Emergency Management. Fugate used the Waffle House diner chain as a proxy for how businesses and communities were recovering after a disaster. The Index is simple: if a Waffle House is open and serving its full menu, it's a green indicator, meaning the diner probably has power or is running on a generator. If it's open but serving a limited menu, it's yellow, indicating the diner probably doesn't have electricity or running water but can still cook on a gas stove. If it's closed, it's red, signaling a severe disaster.

The Reliability of the Waffle House Index

The WHI is reliable because Waffle House, open 24/7, 365 days a year, has excellent risk management procedures and often stays open during natural disasters. If even Waffle House is closed, the situation is bad and the broader community is likely severely impacted. For instance, during the 2004 hurricanes in Florida, Lynne McChristian of the I.I.I. was able to grab dinner thanks to a code yellow WHI, feeding six people for $30.

The Waffle House Index in Recent Events

In 2016, the WHI went red before Hurricane Matthew hit Florida, sparking a colorful reaction from the media and social media. The Miami Herald stated, "When Waffle House surrenders to a hurricane, you know it's bad." The Washington Post echoed, "Hurricane Matthew is so scary even the always-open eatery is evacuating." A faithful customer on Twitter exclaimed, "GOD IN HEAVEN THIS IS THE END!" For those in the path of natural disasters, staying safe and keeping close watch on the WHI can provide a quick assessment of the storm's impact.