“This seems lifted from The Onion but it’s not. According to the WSJ, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate uses a ‘Waffle House Index’ to help him determine how destructive a hurricane has been to an area. If a Waffle House is closed, you’re probably screwed.” via Gizmodo and Wall Street Journal
Specifically, in Fugate’s interpretation:
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.
