FEMA Uses Waffle House Menu to Determine Storm Damage

How to Measure a Storm's Fury One Breakfast at a Time

 

Disaster Pros Look to 'Waffle House Index';

 

State of the Menu Gives Clue to Damage

 

By VALERIE BAUERLEIN

 

WELDON, N.C.—When a hurricane makes landfall, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relies on a couple of metrics to assess its destructive power.

 

First, there is the well-known Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. Then there is what he calls the "Waffle House Index."

 

Green means the restaurant is serving a full menu, a signal that damage in an area is limited and the lights are on. Yellow means a limited menu, indicating power from a generator, at best, and low food supplies. Red means the restaurant is closed, a sign of severe damage in the area or unsafe conditions.

 

The mobile command center, above, went to Havelock, N.C., during Irene.

 

"If you get there and the Waffle House is closed?" FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has said. "That's really bad. That's where you go to work."

 

Waffle House Inc. has 1,600 restaurants stretching from the mid-Atlantic to Florida and across the Gulf Coast, leaving it particularly vulnerable to hurricanes. Other businesses, of course, strive to reopen as quickly as possible after disasters. But the Waffle House, which spends almost nothing on advertising, has built a marketing strategy around the goodwill gained from being open when customers are most desperate.

 

 

Post Continues on online.wsj.com

FEMA Uses Waffle House Menu to Determine Storm Damage "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS" RECEIVE $4 BILLION FROM IRS IN 2010? The last resort: More and more Americans are calling long-stay motels home Obama’s Enron Murdoch Nets $12.5M Bonus, Son James Declines Bonus Terrorism Today is Uploading Youtube Videos TSA Awareness Project - Topic spotlight WikiLeaks - A member Topic Spotlight WikiLeaks - Cable: UN peacekeepers traded food for sex Microsoft 'intentionally designed software for phones to track customers without their consent' Euro Govs: protected and participated in CIA ops which violated fundamental tenets of our systems of justice and human rights protection Base partially evacuated Hazmat situation, suspicious package reported at Scott Illinois Air Force Base Two Toronto PIGS Shiver In Fear Over Unruly 9 yr old - Forced to Handcuff Child U.S. newborn death rate tied with Qatar Conspiracy Files looks at why some people still question what really happened on 9/11 Support the Champion of the Constitution - www.ronpaul2012.com All charges dropped against Detroit mom Maryanne Godboldo Fast and Furious Fallout Willie Brown got low-key early warning about air travel on 9/11

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis posted a video

“What’s His Motive?” - Inside The Mind of George Soros

In this short clip, Patrick Bet-David, Sebastian Gorka Adam Sosnick, and Tom Ellsworth George Soros and what motivates him to do the things he does. FaceTime...
yesterday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
cheeki kea favorited Bob of the Family Renner's photo
Tuesday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"If you're ever out there Doc V and notice giant two legged birds roaming the wilderness be…"
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Tuesday
Burbia commented on TommyD's group The Chuckle Hut
Monday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Sunday
Doc Vega posted photos
Saturday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Ashrams and Moonies Perfect Case for Mind Control

 In the late 60’s and into the 70’s we saw a strange phenomenon emerge! That was the rise of cults…See More
Aug 22
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Modern Progress

 From some things you just can’t come backNot everyone has your backIt might just be a nuclear…See More
Aug 21
Bob of the Family Renner favorited tjdavis's photo
Aug 21
Less Prone favorited Sandy's discussion Sick sci-fi sex fantasy written by Epstein's first benefactor people say inspired his twisted island... before author's SON ended up arresting him
Aug 21
Doc Vega commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Now Playing

"They sure as hell are! "
Aug 20
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea, yes they have already produced a Wooly Mammoth by crossing DNA from frozen remains in…"
Aug 20
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's photo
Aug 20
Less Prone favorited Bob of the Family Renner's photo
Aug 20
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's photo
Aug 20
Less Prone left a comment for Misteri
"Welcome back!"
Aug 20
tjdavis posted blog posts
Aug 19
tjdavis posted photos
Aug 19

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted