OK, semi-official. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has come out with what it calls the “Waffle House Index.” Index is really the wrong word, but we’ll let that slide for now.

Basically the Wa-Ho Index was created because companies like Waffle House and Home Depot are well known for their ability to stay open during and immediately after disasters like hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, snow storms, and earthquakes. The management of these companies take their profits very seriously, and as such rationally plan for these events that we all know will happen at some point or another. Because they plan, they are able to keep their stores open and provide vast amounts of relief to all those who haven’t planned.

You know who doesn’t get the job done in terms of planning and acting responsibly during these disasters? FEMA. After all, if they did, FEMA wouldn’t need to point out how good a job Waffle House and Home Depot do!

Here’s the bottom line, things happen. You know this. Everyone over the age of 15 has lived through some kind of weather-induced hardship (and probably non-weather related issues too). Since you know things go wrong, shouldn’t you be prepared for them with at least some food and water? Because, let’s face it, Waffle House and Home Depot will be open – but no one else is coming.

Among the many reasons my wife is awesome is her penchant to surprise me with cool stuff. Yesterday, she told me not to make any plans for next Saturday. As it turns out, the Serenbe live/work/organic farm community outside of Atlanta is having a screening of GROW!

I am super excited to check this movie out. As a primal prepper, food is very important to me in multiple ways. I care a lot about what I eat along with how that food is created in terms of sustainability and health. A movie about young farmers revitalizing the profession of farming is right up my alley.

Check out the post about this screening over at the blog for the movie.

GROW! Movie Trailer from Anthony-Masterson on Vimeo.