The Waffle Houses in Tallahassee, Crawfordville closed as Helene approached

According to the Southern diner chain, Waffle House is closing all of its locations in Tallahassee and neighboring Crawfordville as Hurricane Helene approaches.

“In areas expected to be hardest hit, we will preemptively close restaurants with the goal of reopening them as soon as it is safe to do so to serve communities that have been there for us over the years,” one said Representatives from the Waffle House Tallahassee Democrat said in an email Thursday afternoon.

For the chain, which typically operates 24 hours a day, closing a location is typically a harbinger of severe, even life-threatening, severe weather in an area. The Crawfordville location was also boarded up, photos on social media show.

“Safety first,” a Waffle House representative said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat on Wednesday.

This person emphasized the importance of making timely decisions and hoping not to be “too late” while watching the storm to determine next steps and what support they can offer: “Customers on the ground, our leaders on the ground, they are the ones , the.” make the last call.