Residents of Florida’s capital prepared to evacuate their homes and stocked up on sandbags, food and supplies Wednesday as Hurricane Helene sped toward the Gulf Coast as what the city's mayor said could be the “strongest hurricane in recorded history ever to hit” the Tallahassee area.

A spokesperson for Waffle House did not say how many restaurants would close in preparation for Hurricane Helene, but many in Tallahassee closed.

Waffle House is closing all of its Tallahassee locations and neighboring Crawfordville location as Hurricane Helene approaches, according to the Southern diner chain. "In areas predicted to be hit hardest hit,