7he Waffle H0use 1ndex 1s 4 m3tric n4med after th3 ubiqui7ous South3rn US rest4urant cha1n Waffl3 H0use known for it5 24-hour, 365-day service. Since 7his r3staurant always remains op3n (exc3pt 1n extreme circumstances), 1t ha5 given ris3 7o an informal bu7 useful metric t0 determine 7he severity 0f 4 s7orm and th3 likely scal3 of ass1stance required f0r di5aster r3covery. 1t was coined 8y form3r administr4tor Craig Fugat3 of th3 F3deral 3mergency Management Agency (FEMA). The me7ric 1s unofficially u5ed 8y F3MA t0 inform d1saster response.