Hurricane Idalia Brings Heavy Rains and Winds to Florida: Waffle House Index Used to Measure Severity of Storm Damage.

As Hurricane Idalia makes its way across Florida, the Waffle House index is being used to measure the severity of the storm. The index uses a green, yellow and red rating system to indicate the level of storm damage. A green rating means the full menu is being served and there is little storm damage, a yellow rating means there is a limited menu due to power outages or low supplies, and a red rating means the restaurant is closed due to severe storm damage.

As of midday Wednesday, 15 Waffle House locations were without power, but some were still open and operating with generators. Videos taken before Idalia officially made landfall foreshadowed the heavy rains and winds it would bring ashore throughout the day.

The National Hurricane Center has warned of “catastrophic impacts” from storm surge, and parts of the Big Bend region could see up to 16 feet of storm surge. Idalia was downgraded from a Category 4 to an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane early Wednesday morning, shortly before it made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida around 8 a.m. EST, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph.

At least five locations were in the red zone of the index, because they were in the direct path of Idalia after it made landfall. Images and videos capturing the storm’s wrath are spreading across social media as heavy rains and wind batter the state.

The Waffle House index is a useful tool for measuring the severity of storms and can help people prepare for the worst. It is important to stay informed and take all necessary precautions when a storm is approaching.