Waffle House execs provide support, welcome, hot meals in Wilmington

"Bacon, sausage and ham, comes with hash browns and eggs," he said.

Heffner is the Waffle House corporate director of IT. He flew in from Atlanta to help after Hurricane Florence, and he's not the only one. Waffle House brought 200 people to the Carolinas, 60 to Wilmington, flying them in mostly on private jets.

Walt Ehmer, Waffle House CEO, provided introductions.

"This is Jennifer. She's from Atlanta, Ming Tao from Orlando, Fla. This young lady is from right here. Hometown for her," he said.

"Robin's in charge of this place, and she's from Atlanta, no, Nashville, Tenn., and she's from Wilmington, and that's our team working the market street store today."

Also present was Joe Rogers. He's the executive vice president, also based in Atlanta.

Wilmington resident James Miller was glad for the company.

"When you don't have power and hot meals, it's a blessing to come here and be able to," he said.

DOT sets up relief pipeline to Wilmington

In Wilmington and throughout the Carolinas, Waffle House made comfort food priority one, from the top down.