Waffle House is a home away from home for many, especially after a wild night out. But what happens when the grits hit the fan and the restaurant goes into emergency mode?
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00:00Waffle House is a home away from home for many, especially after a wild night out.
00:06But what happens when the grits hit the fan and the restaurant goes into emergency mode?
00:10From twisters to floods to hurricanes, it's no secret that southern states are susceptible
00:14to some of the worst weather Mother Nature has to offer.
00:18So in the event that a natural disaster does strike, here's why you'll want to be within
00:22arm's length of the 24-hour diner.
00:25They need a place to eat.
00:27They need a place to actually charge their cell phone.
00:30They'd like to have A.C.
00:31In 2011, FEMA identified the Waffle House Index, a color-coded system that reflects
00:36the operating level of a Waffle House in a disaster area.
00:40Code green indicates a full-service menu, while a limited menu is under a code yellow
00:44umbrella.
00:45And if Waffle House is closed, then it's a code red.
00:48For code yellow status, Waffle House has implemented four different kinds of disaster menus, so
00:53that no matter the level of storm or destruction, the restaurant could still operate to some
00:57degree and provide food and shelter.
00:59Speaking to Business Insider, Waffle House spokesperson Pat Warner has said,
01:03"...after the storm, we feel like we need to be there.
01:06It brings the community back faster."
01:08He continued by saying,
01:10"...you'll start to see folks getting out more.
01:13Back at Waffle House to check in on everybody.
01:15Make sure everybody's okay.
01:17Get a good meal."
01:18Clearly, no Waffle House location is going to surrender to code red without a fight.
01:22Known for its wide array of hash browns, Waffle House is much more than just a restaurant
01:26chain.
01:27It's a place of refuge.
01:29Under Waffle House's code yellow tier are four different disaster menus, labeled limited
01:34menu, emergency menu, no water menu, and no power menu.
01:38These are put into place so that in the event of a natural disaster, the establishment can
01:42remain open to provide food and shelter to those in surrounding neighborhoods.
01:46Each menu has a limited amount of offerings, which are selected based on available resources
01:50or lack thereof during times of crisis.
01:53According to a Reddit user, the limited menu is used when there are other restaurants open,
01:57whereas the emergency menu is distributed when Waffle House is the only food service
02:01running in the area.
02:03Should Waffle House lose access to resources like power or water, then the other two menus
02:07come into play.
02:09Another Reddit user clarified that the no water menu means no ice or foods that require
02:13water to make, like pancakes or waffles, will be available.
02:16However, Waffle House locations are equipped with emergency water tanks for sanitation
02:20purposes.
02:21Likewise, the griddles are gas, not electric, so customers can still order eggs, hash browns,
02:26and hamburgers during power outages.
02:28Additionally, it's also common for Waffle House to slash prices during code yellow.
02:32Speaking to Business Insider about the discounted emergency prices, one Waffle House spokesperson
02:37said,
02:38"...bills are calculated with the lowest tax rate in the local market, and then rounded
02:42down from there to the nearest dollar.
02:44This helps low-income families, those with only cash on hand, or when grocery stores
02:48are unreachable and families need food."
02:51Beyond the four Waffle House Index menus, Waffle House's official Instagram has also
02:55alluded to the fact that employees sometimes veer from standard menus, asking customers
03:00to post pictures of their, quote, favorite off-the-menu creations.
03:04The chain reposted two customers' pics, including a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich served
03:08on raisin toast and a bacon, egg, and cheese creation on a waffle.
03:12Meanwhile, an Instagrammer who claims to have been a Waffle House employee for 29 years
03:17shared a picture of what they refer to as secret menu item number 154, Double D's,
03:23or two Sunnyside Up eggs on top of round hash browns.
03:27Back over on Reddit, cooks and customers shared some more secret menu items from Waffle House.
03:31However, the thread points out that not all Waffle Houses make these items, and you'll
03:35probably be out of luck if you ask for an off-menu dish during a busy period.
03:39However, another Waffle House employee wrote,
03:42I just tell customers who seem to be indecisive that we also have omelets and other items
03:47not listed on the main menu, and that if there's something they were in the mood for but don't
03:51see, to simply ask.