Waffle House Shutters Locations in Anticipation of Hurricane Milton

In the face of the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Milton, Waffle House has announced the temporary closure of several locations across the southeastern United States. The precautionary measure was communicated via the restaurant chain’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, at 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

The company shared a map highlighting the specific locations impacted by the closures due to the approaching storm. Waffle House, renowned for its resilience in remaining open during emergency situations, has decided to close certain outlets as Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall Wednesday night as a major hurricane.

Known for its “Waffle House Index,” a term coined to describe the restaurant’s remarkable ability to remain operational during extreme weather conditions, a closure signifies the severity of the impending weather. “Our status maps reflect our closures as of 2 p.m. today in advance of [Hurricane Milton],” read a statement from Waffle House. “More updates to come. Please stay safe.”

The decision is being closely monitored in Tampa, Florida, among other areas, where several Waffle House locations are anticipated to be directly in the storm’s path. The National Hurricane Center has issued extensive advisories, predicting heavy rains and strong winds that could impact regions from Florida to the Carolinas.

Waffle House’s operational agility is of notable public interest, often serving as an unofficial indicator for the severity of an emergency, as expressed by Craig Fugate, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Fugate famously stated, “If Waffle House is closed, that’s really bad.”

Residents in affected areas are advised to follow local authorities’ guidance and prepare for potential power outages and infrastructure disruptions as Milton approaches. The public can stay informed through continuous coverage and updates provided by various media outlets.