« KGB defector Yuri Bezmenov gives you | Main | "Er... I plead 'Guilty with an explanation...." [Bumped] »

August 19, 2013

The Waffle House Index

waffle-house-credit-cards.jpg

No power? Waffle House has generators and a special gas-only menu. No water? Waffle House will make coffee with bottled water.
Waffle House is so well known for its resiliency that the US government’s disaster relief organization, FEMA, uses the chain as a sensor network to make post-disaster damage assessments. After disasters, like the recent devastating tornado in Oklahoma, FEMA officials will use the so-called “Waffle House Index,” calling every Waffle House location in the area to gather two pieces of data: Are they open? Are they serving a limited menu? Based on this information, they color-code each diner: red for closed, yellow for open but with a limited menu, and green for open. By mapping the data, responders can quickly establish the location and extent of the damage. Data, Resiliency, and Waffles Ushahidi

Posted by gerardvanderleun at August 19, 2013 6:50 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

They forgot the most important question... Is Kid Rock starting fights with anybody at your location?

Posted by: Potsie at August 19, 2013 7:20 PM

Down here in The South Waffle House makes Starbucks look like a half-hearted attempt at ubiquitous store locations. They are everywhere. It's not unusual to have 2 Waffle Houses at one interstate highway exit. Throw in the Waffle House knockoffs like Huddle House and others and you are never more than 100 yards from waffle resupply.

Posted by: Scott M at August 20, 2013 12:17 AM

Well done article that. I'll make sure to use it wisely.

Posted by: mobile at February 28, 2014 3:45 AM

Well done article that. I'll make sure to use it wisely.

Posted by: mobile at February 28, 2014 3:45 AM

Hey, killer job on that one you guys!

Posted by: propecia viagra at April 11, 2014 4:50 PM

Hey, killer job on that one you guys!

Posted by: propecia viagra at April 11, 2014 4:50 PM

Hey, killer job on that one you guys!

Posted by: propecia viagra at April 11, 2014 4:51 PM

Post a comment




Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)