Waffle House Index: How a breakfast chain’s menu helps officials gauge storm damage
Hurricane Florence was the first big storm of the 2018 hurricane season, and US government officials are using a light-hearted way of determining how bad the storm's damage will be. Businesses like 24/7 restaurants, Walmart, and home improvement stores help communities recover after a disaster. It's said that if the Waffle House, a chain of breakfast restaurants, is closed, then things are bad; if it's open, then the recovery will be swift. Plus, learn the English phrase, "in the wake of."
Also in Today's Lesson
Transcript
How bad was the latest hurricane? Just check the Waffle House Index
The southeastern portion of the United States was hit with a hurricane last week, and one of the measures that government officials use to gauge the extent of the damage is the Waffle House Index—a light-hearted way of seeing how quickly the local economy is rebounding. If the iconic 24/7 breakfast chain is open, then the area is recovering well. But if the Waffle House is closed, then you know things are bad.
Welcome to Plain English for Thursday, September 20, 2018. I’m Jeff in Chicago, the producer of Plain English is JR in Mexico, and you are listening to the best podcast for learning English. That’s because we talk about current events—things happening around the world in all walks of life—and we go at a nice and slow pace so you can understand every word.
One of the tools you can use to understand the words is the transcript. Every single episode has a word-for-word transcript published on our web site, PlainEnglish.com. Today’s episode is number 87, so the URL is easy to remember: PlainEnglish.com/87. If you go there, you’ll also see our translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and French.
Just quickly before we start: I will be in Mexico City on Saturday, September 29. That’s in just a little over a week, and if you are in Mexico and would like to meet JR and me, we would love to meet some of you. Just send a note to jr@plainenglish.com and he will let you know the details.
Waffle House helps US government measure storm damage
The southeastern portion of the United States had an uninvited guest named Florence late last week—that would be Hurricane Florence, later downgraded to Tropical Storm Florence, which dumped more than 30 inches of rain on some parts of North Carolina, the most rain that state has ever seen as a result of one single storm.
This was the first big blow of hurricane season in the Caribbean and the southeastern portion of the US this year. Hurricane season typically lasts from June to the end of November, but it is especially bad starting in late August. For those of you fortunate enough not to live in the path of hurricanes: you should know they are the most powerful storms on earth. They form in the warm water of the Atlantic Ocean, near the Caribbean, and gather steam as they move north. They are swirling storms of high winds and lots and lots of rain.
Places most affected by hurricanes are islands in the Caribbean, parts of Mexico, and the southeastern portion of the United States. Here in the United States, we have a government agency called the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, which helps coordinate our national response to disasters, including hurricanes. And one of the ways they determine how bad a storm like Hurricane Florence is, is called the Waffle House Index.
I know a lot of you are listening in the southern part of the United States, so you have probably seen the bright yellow signs; maybe you have even had some eggs and buttery breakfast potatoes at a Waffle House before. For the uninitiated, Waffle House is a chain of breakfast restaurants across the southeast of the United States, especially popular in Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, states that are along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, ground zero for many of the worst storms and tornadoes. In addition to its reputation for being open 24/7, serving up affordable breakfast staples and hot coffee around the clock, Waffle House is known for being one of the first places to re-open—or never even close—during a natural disaster.
In 2011, after a deadly tornado hit the town of Joplin, Missouri, an official for FEMA coined the term Waffle House Index. His point was simply that if they get to a place and the Waffle House isn’t even open, then you know things are bad in that town. They even have a rudimentary color-coded system: if the restaurant is totally closed, that’s really bad, that’s a red. If it’s open, but only serving a limited menu, that’s a yellow. And if the full menu is available, then the Waffle House Index reads green.
The Waffle House Index might not be as sophisticated as, say, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, but it is more than just a light-hearted way of determining how bad things are in the wake of a storm. It’s a quick way of reading how bad a community’s economy might suffer after the storm’s initial damage is done. If the restaurant can’t open, it means there are utilities out, maybe there’s no running water, roads might be blocked, or suppliers are shut down. It would also indicate what needs a community might face. If you picture a bad storm, the homes in the area might be out of power, so their perishable goods—the food in their refrigerators—would go bad. If the most reliable restaurant in that town isn’t open, then people are going to need fresh food before long. FEMA, the disaster management agency, said in a blog post that the sooner restaurants, corner stores, and grocery stores re-open after a storm, the quicker a community can begin to rebuild. Waffle House is often cited alongside Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s as having strong disaster-response capabilities.
The company is embracing its reputation. The Waffle House corporate headquarters even has a storm center that monitors weather data and plans the company’s response. The corporate headquarters is ready to bring in generators in the event of a power outage. A spokesman said that they want to be the place people can gather and talk about the storm over eggs and bacon, and check in on neighbors.
Related: How many people died in Hurricane Maria? It’s up for debate
I researched and wrote this episode on my back porch, where it is sunny, totally cloudless actually, and about 75 degrees—just a perfect late-summer day. But even as I enjoy the nice weather here, I hope any of you listening in the Caribbean and southeastern states of the US are doing well in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Florence.
I want to say hi to a couple of listeners today. Belkis from the Dominican Republic to improve her confidence in English. Belkis, with practice, I know you’ll get there—but in the meantime, ¡no tengas miedo! Don’t be afraid, just get out there and talk and don’t worry about not being perfect. It’s all about getting better little by little; that’s what I know in Spanish and what all the thousands of other Plain English listeners know about English. You’re not alone and you’ll get better with time and practice, I promise.
I also heard from Márcio from Brazil, who works for an international company and uses English at work. He listens on his commute to and from work, which I know a lot of people do. And finally today Lucas, an engineering student from Viçosa, Brazil, who will be using English in his internships and his career in engineering, a very international profession.
So thanks to Belkis, Márcio, and Lucas for being in the audience and connecting with me last week. If you’d like to be in touch, just shoot me an email. My address is jeff@plainenglish.com. You can also sign up for the show’s emails, with extra vocabulary words and helpful links to English articles. That comes out twice a week, one for every episode. Go to PlainEnglish.com/mail to sign up.
¿Hablas español?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into Spanish. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
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The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
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Parlez-vous français?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Você fala português?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
日本語は話せますか？
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Parli italiano?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sen Türkçe konuşmayı biliyor musun?
The transcripts of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Turkish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Mówisz po polsku?
The transcript of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Polish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Audio
The fast version of this lesson is available for subscribers of Plain English Plus+.