Neat article about Waffle House. They have 100 people they bring in to man the Waffle Houses in the hard hit areas, and cut prices. The "jump teams" from other areas worked so that the local employees could tend to their homes and families.

https://www.yahoo.com/...ashes-135527205.html


Waffle House brings in over 100 people from outside affected markets, known as “jump teams,” to help local staff ride out the storm while they’re focused on loved ones. It supplies power generators and backup food supplies as necessary and once transportation is safe. The leadership also makes its way to the disaster zone: CEO Walt Ehmer was recently in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Executives help make decisions about resources and appropriate responses. They communicate and coordinate with employees back in Georgia headquarters.
Waffle House is more than a spot for a hot meal in these times, too. “We’re that gathering place where people get together to talk about local happenings,” Warner says. “After the storm, we feel like we need to be there. It brings the community back faster.” The overall objective is to return to “normalcy,” as he puts it.
Restaurants generally see first responders and power company employees show up earliest in the wake of a storm.