ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Waffle House shared that it will be closing some locations in Florida as Hurricane Milton nears the Gulf Coast.
In an X post, the chain said it will be closing 25 restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. Eight locations in Fort Myers were also highlighted.
Only five locations appear to still be open in the Bay area with seven open in Fort Myers, but the chain says that may change.
What is the Waffle House index?
Known for staying open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even during extreme weather, Waffle House has become an unofficial gauge for how well an area is faring during a disaster.
With Hurricane Milton poised to bring devastating impacts across Tampa Bay, locals may be checking their nearest Waffle House for a sense of how their area is holding up.
According to Waffle House’s website, there are three color-coded levels of the index:
- Green means the restaurant has a full menu, a signal that damage in an area is limited, and the lights are on.
- Yellow indicates a limited menu, indicating that power is running from a generator at best and that food supplies are low.
- Red means the restaurant is closed, indicating severe damage in the area or unsafe conditions.
To learn more about the Waffle House index, click here.
