A Restaurant That Rarely Closes
The Waffle House Index is an informal disaster assessment tool created by former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. It uses the operational status of Waffle House restaurants to gauge the impact of hurricanes and other disasters. Since Waffle House is known for staying open under extreme conditions, its closures indicate serious damage.
Three Levels of Impact
The index has three levels. Green means full service with little or no damage. Yellow indicates limited operations due to power outages or supply shortages. Red signals complete closure, which is extremely rare and suggests severe destruction in the area.
A Key Indicator in Storms
The term gained national attention after the 2011 Joplin tornado, when local Waffle House locations remained open. In 2022, Hurricane Ian forced 35 Florida locations to close—an unusual event. Before Hurricane Milton in 2024, Waffle House shut down 33 restaurants as a precaution.
A Unique Tool in Disaster Response
Though some closures occur for employee safety, the speed of reopening helps measure recovery progress. The faster Waffle House returns to normal, the less severe the overall damage. The Waffle House Index remains a unique and effective way to assess storm impact.
The Waffle House Index helps assess storm impact. Since Waffle House rarely closes, its status during storms signals destruction levels. If a location shuts down, it means major damage. This method has helped authorities evaluate hurricanes and tornadoes efficiently. 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/zWG0kJIyhA
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 21, 2025