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At least two Waffle House locations have closed in South Carolina due to the effects of Hurricane Dorian, pointing to the severity of the storm’s impact.
One location in Charleston has shut down, as well as another location on Johns Island, according to a report from Fox Business. A spokesman for Waffle House confirmed to Eater that the two restaurants are located at 325 Savannah Highway and 3565 Savannah Highway, respectively.
Calls to multiple Charleston-area locations went unanswered Thursday morning.
The remaining ten restaurants around Charleston are currently operating without power and offering a limited menu. The company decided late afternoon Thursday to shutter a location in Morehead City, N.C. as well.
Storm authorities have informally used the “Waffle House Index” as a barometer for the intensity of a weather event, since the company keeps locations open under intense circumstances as much as possible. Closed stores are indicated as red on the index, while the limited power situation garners a yellow rating.
Eater will update this story as more information becomes available.
• Hurricane Dorian: Waffle House Index Flashing Red in South Carolina [Fox Business]
•How Waffle House Became An Unofficlal Authority for Disaster-Affected Areas [CNN]