If your Waffle House still serves waffles, things may not be so bad after all. But if it’s closed - buckle up, it’s time to hunker down.

If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? That’s really bad.” FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — As Hurricane Helene sweeps through the southeast, residents are turning to an unusual yet reliable indicator of storm severity: the Waffle House Index.

As such, an open, fully functional restaurant is a green on the Waffle House Index, meaning that the zone is more or less fine. A limited menu is yellow on the scale, indicating that the local area could use some assistance. The Waffle House Index hits red when a restaurant is closed, signifying that the local community needs significant help.