It's that bad: Waffle House closes in Panama City Beach ahead of Michael

(FOX 46 WJZY) - The restaurant that never closes is officially closed in Panama City Beach.

Multiple news outlets in Florida report that the Waffle House located on Highway 30-A just across from the beach had a simple sign on their door, reading 'closed.'

Hurricane shutters were reportedly seen covering the southern restaurant.

As with Hurricane Florence, many look to Waffle House locations in the storm's path to see how bad the storm may be. The Federal Emergency Management Agency informally uses the Waffle House Index which uses the operating conditions of the resilient restaurants as a barometer for how well an area will recover from a hurricane or other hazards.

The Waffle House Index:

FEMA notes it's rare for the index to turn red because "Waffle House is well-prepared for disasters."

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For the latest on Hurricane Michael, go to myfoxhurricane.com.