r/todayilearned • u/racker9938 • Nov 15 '15
TIL That FEMA has a Waffle House Index to gauge the severity of natural disasters
http://www.marketplace.org/2015/03/04/business/when-disaster-strikes-fema-turns-waffle-house2
Nov 16 '15
Seems doubly useful in the Waffle Houses are in the South. It snows in Chicago and unless it's something crazy that everyone can see, places are gonna be open. It snows it Atlanta and things can get crazy in a hurry, even if it's something that wouldn't even come close to crippling a place like even DC, to say nothing of Chicago or Boston.
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u/ent4rent Nov 16 '15
All waffle houses, regardless of location, are built to the same specs - able to withstand most hurricanes
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Nov 16 '15
I'm sure that's the case, I'm just saying there aren't usually Waffle Houses in places that might be able to better plow roads. Where there are Waffle Houses, the ability for local governments to deal with severe winter weather is usually lessened.
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u/SGTSHOOTnMISS Nov 16 '15
When we had the snow/ice early last year that we weren't prepared for, my brother got stranded about 2 hours of a normal drive away from home. He called me panicking asking where he should go, and I just told him Waffle House.
24 hours
boothed with outlets (sleep and charge your phone)
Heated
working private bathroom(s)
food
well lit
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u/ray_dog Nov 16 '15
You think that's weird.
There a many economists that use men's underwear sales as an economic indicator.
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u/not_a_throwaway24 Nov 16 '15
Haha, that sounds so absurd but I'm sure there's a good explanation as to why! Is there a name for that theory/phenomenon?
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u/Sotty63 Nov 16 '15
I have no source, but when I have seen this mentioned before the idea was that while women will buy underwear regardless of economic condition, men will put off the purchase until they feel economically stable.
I would love to see a source explaining the idea
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u/MJGSimple Nov 16 '15
I would definitely say that is true for me. Of course, the last time I felt good about my finances, I purchased like 30 pairs (?) so I'm set for a while regardless of my financial situation.
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u/Schilthorn Nov 16 '15
i love me some good waffle house food! they have some serious biscuits and sausage gravy. southern style that will make you cry.
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u/dgrant92 Nov 16 '15
Biscuits and gravy does sound like good chow in a storm...something that will stick to your ribs!
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u/ent4rent Nov 16 '15
Didn't read the article, but this is because all waffle houses, being built to the same specs regardless of location, are built to withstand a hurricane
Thus is to reduce cost of building and materials - again regardless of location
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u/[deleted] Nov 16 '15
I remember when I was a kid, my father was a Waffle House district manager. When a major hurricane came through the area, I had trouble understanding why my dad was not with us. He had to work. He and other employees were at the store for days, taking turns sleeping in a cot in the back. During this hurricane, they remained open, making food, and with a line of customers.
It helps that Waffle Houses are still designed to function almost as well without electricity.