The LaPlace Waffle House staff was flipping chairs onto tables and preparing to close Wednesday morning ahead of Hurricane Francine.

While finishing a meal, a waitress told guests that the restaurant, known for staying open through hurricanes, would close before Francine made landfall on Wednesday evening. Diners were asked to leave before noon.

Hurricane Francine is expected to hit the Louisiana coastline Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds before veering northeast, affecting the New Orleans metro and Mississippi Gulf Coast.

When will Hurricane Francine impacts hit New Orleans? Here's the Wednesday forecast.

Hurricane Francine is headed up the Gulf of Mexico, now expected to hit the Morgan City area as a Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds before ve...

St. John the Baptist Parish is forecasted to have a storm surge from 3-6 feet. Wind speeds in the greater New Orleans area are expected to ramp up gradually throughout the afternoon.

This is the first Waffle House known to be closed in the greater New Orleans area. Waffle House is famous for staying open through storms with minimal damage, and FEMA's informal index for the southern chain suggests that this closure indicates severe damage and flooding.

The New Orleans Waffle House location on Canal Street was planning on staying open through the storm, they told Times-Picayune reporter Ian McNulty Tuesday morning.

Check back for further developments.