The Waffle House Index

If there's been an earthquake or a hurricane, the first thing to do is... check if your nearest Waffle House is open. That sounds crazy, but it'll tell you how bad the damage has been. In fact, there's even a so-called Waffle House Index. If you see green on the index, it means that the restaurant and the local infrastructure are working properly. If you see yellow on the index, the Waffle House only offers a partial menu, as the water is flowing but the electricity is out. The restaurant will be closed if the color red is displayed. Both the power and the water are out.