Waffle House is more than a restaurant during a disaster, it’s helping FEMA

MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) – When you think of Waffle House, you probably never think of the importance it has when it comes to natural disasters.

Believe it or not, Waffle House plays an important role for FEMA and their disaster relief efforts!

The term, known as the “Waffle House Index,” was invented in 2011 by former FEMA chief Craig Fugate. As Fugate put it, “When you get there and Waffle House is closed, that’s really bad!” Given Waffle House’s reputation for staying open during extreme weather events or quickly reopening after one, Fugate concluded that that this is a good way to assess the impact on a community and create the opportunity to provide resources to the damaged community.

The index has three levels – Green, Yellow and Red.

Green indicates the restaurant is serving a full menu and has power without causing any damage. Yellow indicates that Waffle House is serving a limited menu because food supplies are running low or electricity is either provided by a generator or at limited capacity. Red indicates Waffle House is closed due to severe damage or destruction.

So the next time you pass by a waffle house, remember that they do more than just offer a tasty, quick meal. They support organizations like FEMA during natural disasters.