How Bad Could A Storm Be? Look To Waffle House For Answers

The video discusses the Waffle House Index, an informal measure of storm impact based on the operational status of Waffle House restaurants. If a Waffle House is fully operational, recovery is manageable. A limited menu suggests power issues, while closures indicate severe conditions. The index, coined by former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate, helps assess community recovery post-storm. It gained prominence after the 2011 Joplin tornado, where open Waffle Houses indicated economic stability. Waffle House shares this data with FEMA to aid emergency response.

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