Duers in OK & KS head's up. Waffle Houses have closed in OKC due to high risk of strong tornadoes tonight. [View all]

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It sounds funny, but Waffle Houses never close. They've even stayed open during hurricanes.



Ryan Hall is live:

The "Waffle House Index":

https://www.accuweather.com/en/accuweather-ready/what-is-the-waffle-house-index/667995

The Waffle House Index is an informal measure of a storm’s severity and its effect on a stricken community. It comes from Waffle House’s reputation for being well-prepared for disasters and either remaining open during disastrous weather or reopening shortly afterward.

Craig Fugate, who was then the FEMA Administrator, coined the term shortly after the Joplin tornado of May 2011. The massive tornado devastated the town and caused $2.8 billion worth of damage. It also killed 158 people and injured roughly 1,150 others. Both of the Waffle Houses in Joplin, however, remained open.

Waffle House, especially the locations in areas that get a lot of hurricanes, has a reputation for its effective handling of disasters. It has a limited menu prepared for times of food shortages and power outages. It also assembles “Waffle House jump teams” who can quickly reopen the restaurant after a disaster as soon as it is safe to do so. Other franchises, such as Lowe’s, Walmart, and Home Depot, have similar policies.

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