Waffle House Closes Locations in Advance of Hurricane Milton

In anticipation of Hurricane Milton‘s approach, several Waffle House restaurants in Southwest Florida have temporarily closed their doors. The closures come as a precautionary measure as the storm nears the Florida coast.

According to Waffle House’s statement on the social media platform ‘X,’ three locations in Lee County have ceased operations. This includes one restaurant in Fort Myers and two in Cape Coral. Meanwhile, all locations in Charlotte County are also closed. However, establishments in Collier County remain operational at this time.

The decision to shutter these locations highlights the reliance on the so-called “Waffle House Index,” a term coined by emergency management officials. The index serves as an informal gauge of the severity of a storm, based on the operational status of Waffle House locations. When a Waffle House closes, it signals that local conditions have likely deteriorated to a serious level.

The Waffle House chain, which was founded in Georgia in 1955, operates over 1,900 locations across 25 states in the United States. The chain has become a cultural icon, known for staying open during extreme weather conditions, making its closures a noteworthy event in meteorological circles.