In an unexpected turn of events, Whataburger, a popular fast-food chain in Texas, has inadvertently become an indicator of power supply in the Houston area. Due to Hurricane Beryl which caused power outages for more than 2.2 million people on July 8, the chain has unknowingly stepped up to provide a key service amid the chaos.

Whataburger operates 24/7, and if any of its branches is closed, that likely signifies a power outage. With its app, residents can check which of the 127 Whataburger outlets in Houston are operational, as indicated by an orange W. A grey W suggests a closed restaurant. Besides offering food, these open chains offer electricity and air conditioning amidst a regional heatwave, while around half a million people still have no power.

Usually, during any power disruption caused by a weather emergency, electricity companies are expected to inform residents about the power restoration in their areas. However, CenterPoint Energy, the electricity provider for around seven million people in the area, did not do so in the aftermath of this hurricane, leaving locals to figure it out themselves.

Interestingly, local users started using the Whataburger app as a power outage map. One user, @BBQBryan, even suggested that Whataburger should take over infrastructure, to which the chain responded, "Well there’s a use for our app we didn’t think of! We hope you and everyone else are okay!"

One resident, Reyne Hirsch, who faced sporadic power outages at her home the night of the storm, found out about the app through her friends. She used it to navigate the areas still dealing with power issues and traffic. She said, "There are so many traffic lights out on main roads in town. People traveling at high speeds don't realize the lights are out and blow right through them." Hirsch also used the app to find a neighborhood where she could watch a movie and relax, ultimately using Whataburger to test if the power was on.

This unexpected tool follows in the footstep of the Waffle House Weather Index, which has been used for its secondary function in the past to gauge a storm's severity. The index operates on a tiered system, indicating the operational status of Waffle House restaurants based on their food supply and power availability. During Hurricane Beryl, many Waffle House locations in Houston stayed open.