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Waffle House is a port in a literal storm. The 24-hour restaurant chain, based in the south and popular throughout the region for its breakfast dishes, is renowned for not closing its doors. It is often open even in places where there is a storm or hurricane like Florence.
That's why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is turning to Waffle House to assess the impact of storms on local areas. Its color-coded Waffle House Index monitors open, closed or limited menu locations.
The food chain works with government agencies, including FEMA, according to Waffle House spokesperson Pat Warner. The index, which began in 2004, allows officials to "sort of see the return of a community," says Warner. "They help us by providing information about energy and highways, it's really a partnership." While many other companies are working with FEMA, "we seem to be getting attention" in the media, he adds. -he.
Waffle House remained strong against Hurricane Florence, which hit the coast of North Carolina on Friday and was downgraded to a tropical storm. Until now, according to authorities, he has killed at least four people.
"We're doing pretty well, but it's hard to get a good score right now," Warner told a conference with MONEY on Friday night. "Many of our restaurants are open. We have closures in Wilmington on the coast.
<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "The company has developed a hurricane preparation procedure on several decades, and even has a Waffle House Storm Center. "data-reactid =" 27 "> The company has developed a hurricane preparation procedure over the decades and even has a Waffle House Storm Center.
"We followed the storm all last week. On Monday, we started to get the wheels moving on three main points: people, power and food, "says Warner.
Waffle House brings together more than 100 people from overseas markets, known as "jump teams," to help local staff weather the storm as they focus on their loved ones. It provides electricity generators and food supplies as needed and once transport is completed safely. Management is also making its way to the disaster area: CEO Walt Ehmer was recently in Myrtle Beach, SC. Leaders help make decisions about resources and appropriate responses. They communicate and coordinate with employees at Georgia headquarters.
Waffle House is more than a place for a hot meal at this time too. "We are this gathering place where people gather to talk about local events," says Warner. "After the storm, we feel we have to be there. It brings the community back faster. The overall goal is to return to "normalcy," as he says.
Restaurants usually see first responders and employees of electric companies come forward at the earliest in the aftermath of a storm.
"You'll start seeing people out more often, at Waffle House, to make sure everyone is fine, to eat well," Warner says. If the power goes off and Waffle House has a generator, it serves as a hub for people to charge their dead cell phones. And it's a way for associates to make money when they would not be otherwise during a critical period. "This sense of community leads us through."
As far as food is concerned, Waffle House has four secret menus in place for disaster-based, situational: a menu without food, a menu without water and two limited menus with a wider range of options deployed in depending on the situation. customer volume.
"Without electricity, you will not go for waffles. We have canned drinks, but no drinks at the fountain. We have a lot to cook on the grill: hash browns, eggs, sausages. Cheeseburgers are very much on the powerless menu, "says Warner. (The hot plate works on gas, not on electricity.) Without water, the waffles are outside again, because the equipment requires a lot of cleaning.
Waffle House is famous for its hash browns available in all sorts of combinations – "smothered" with grilled onions, "covered" with melted cheese, loaded "all the way through". clock, offers a comforting and accessible meal during a difficult time.
And what better for those who stopped in Florence, Waffle House also reduces its prices in case of emergency. Invoices are calculated with the lowest tax rate on the local market, then rounded to the nearest dollar. "Some people might not have a credit card," Warner explains of the policy. "It makes everything more affordable and easy for everyone."
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