Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donald discusses the potential impact of Hurricane Milton after the mayor of Tampa directed residents to evacuate to Barney & Company.
hurricane milton As a powerful storm approaches central Florida with landfall expected late Wednesday, Floridians will monitor the 'Waffle House Index' for impacts to their area as the storm passes and the recovery process begins I am doing it.
Waffle House is a popular restaurant chain with many locations from the mid-Atlantic to Florida and throughout the Gulf Coast, serving areas susceptible to hurricanes and other severe weather. As a result, Waffle House prioritized reopening as soon as possible after a disaster, and the Waffle House Index was developed as an indicator of the storm's impact on a specific region.
Hurricane Milton, classified as a Category 4 hurricane as of Wednesday afternoon, is expected to make landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast, bringing “life-threatening” storm surge and strong winds. It is then predicted to track across central Florida to the state's Atlantic coast.
As of 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the Waffle House index showed closures across the region from Tampa Bay to St. Paul. St. Petersburg area and Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast. Across Central Florida, Waffle Houses in the Miami and Gainesville areas remained open, although closures were reported in the Orlando, Ocala and Daytona areas.
Category 4 Hurricane Milton causes dangerous tornadoes in Florida before devastating landfall
“Our mission remains to keep our employees out of harm's way, so it's our mission to keep our employees out of harm's way. “In some areas, we are closing restaurants preemptively with a goal in mind.” We plan to reopen as soon as it is safe to serve the community that has supported us over the years. ”
“Pre-emptive closures are being implemented as a safety precaution in areas that are in the path of the storm and predicted to be likely to experience significant damage, or where mandatory evacuations have been ordered.”
Florida Chief Financial Officer says damage from Hurricane Milton could reach $20 billion
Waffle House was founded in Georgia in 1955 and currently has more than 1,900 locations in 25 states. (Joe Radle/Getty Images)
Waffle House Index Meaning
The Waffle House Index has three levels that correspond to the level of service available at a particular restaurant, and also provides insight into the extent of damage and whether or not the area has power.
Green means Waffle House is offering a full menu. This means the restaurant had power and minimal to no damage.
Yellow means Waffle House has a limited menu because the restaurant has lost power or is powered by a generator, or food supplies are low.
Red indicates the restaurant is closed. This may be due to an evacuation order being issued prior to the storm or due to severe damage from the storm or hazardous conditions.
Florida businesses concerned about worsening damage from Hurricane Milton Helen's 'tragedy': 'It's like a third world country'
The Waffle House Index was developed in 2011. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Waffle House Index was founded in 2011 by Craig Fugate, then head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), after a devastating tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, leaving the chain's two stores open. It was done.
“What if you get there and Waffle House is closed? That really sucks. That's where you go to work,” Fugate said of the Waffle House Index as an indicator of damage caused by natural disasters.
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
