2 chapters across the catalog
Producers provide "boots on the ground" insights into the Waffle House Index, a metric used by FEMA to gauge the severity of a disaster based on whether local restaurants are open. The index was popularized by former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate as a way to track recovery and locate hot food for emergency responders.
Waffle House Index, FEMA Disaster Recovery Metric
The Waffle House Index, a metric used by FEMA to gauge the severity of a storm's impact, saw at least 21 locations close in Florida due to Hurricane Ian. The color-coded system uses restaurant status—green for full menu, yellow for limited, and red for closed—to indicate the level of community devastation and resource availability.
