How the Waffle House Index helps FEMA judge a hurricane's severity
Briefly

In the aftermath of hurricanes, the status of local Waffle House locations serves as an informal but reliable metric for community recovery and storm severity.
The Waffle House Index has become a crucial tool not only for locals but also for federal officials in assessing the impact of severe weather on communities.
In Southern culture, a closed Waffle House clearly signals an impending disaster, while any open locations suggest the community may emerge relatively unscathed.
Despite the chaos of hurricanes, Waffle House remains a constant, providing a comforting presence and serving as a gauge for residents in storm-prone areas.
Read at Fortune
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