Man rides out tornado inside van. See the footage | CNN

Man Rides Out Tornado in Van, Shares Harrowing Experience

A dramatic video has emerged of a man who rode out an EF-3 tornado inside his pest control van. The intense storm swept through Pulaski and Lonoke counties in Arkansas on Tuesday, killing one person in North Little Rock and four others in Wynne.

Cody Coombes, the owner of the van, recounted his harrowing experience to CNN, sharing footage of the devastating storm from the safety of his vehicle. According to Coombes, he had been driving through the area when the tornado warning sounded, and he quickly sought shelter in his van.

The National Weather Service reported that the tornado reached peak winds of 165 mph, causing widespread destruction and chaos in its wake. Coombes' video footage shows the storm's intense power, with strong gusts of wind and debris flying through the air.

Despite the treacherous conditions, Coombes emerged from his van shaken but alive, sharing his harrowing experience with CNN. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather events and the importance of seeking shelter in such situations.

Watch Cody Coombes' video footage of riding out the tornado inside his van here: [link to CNN article]
 
Can you even imagine being in that situation?! 🤯 I mean, I know it's crazy that he had a pest control van with him, but still... 165 mph winds is NO JOKE 😱. And what's crazy is that the van was actually a safe haven for him? Like, who expects to be saved by a little metal box during a tornado?! 🤔 But seriously, it just goes to show how unpredictable and intense these storms can be. Glad he made it out alive tho! 💯
 
just wow... that's crazy 😲. i mean, can you even imagine being in a situation like that? riding out a tornado in your van and still being able to drive it afterwards 🤯. i guess safety first is the right attitude in situations like that. and now he's sharing his experience with the world... hope he's doing okay 💕.
 
😱 I'm still shaking just watching that video, can you believe he was driving around with a bunch of pesticides and then this EF-3 tornado comes out of nowhere?! 🤯 The guy is lucky to be alive, I mean, 165mph winds are crazy. And the fact that he managed to stay calm enough to record it all... I don't think I could have done that even if I had my life on the line 😲. It's a good reminder to always take severe weather warnings seriously and get to safety ASAP, no messing around. 💨
 
omg this dude is literally the coolest thing i've seen all week rode out a tornado in his van like it was a normal day 🤯💨 can't even imagine how scary that must've been for him idk how he kept calm tho maybe it's because he's a pest control guy lol dealing with cockroaches and snakes every day is crazy enough, but tornadoes are on a whole different level 😂👍
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this dude's bravery 😲. Riding out a tornado in a van is insane, and I can imagine how terrified he must've been 🤯. 165 mph winds are just crazy, I don't think I could've handled it even if I had a shelter like that.

But what really gets me is that the van was actually for pest control? Like, who uses their van to deal with bugs, and then they end up saving someone's life in a tornado 🐜😂. It just goes to show that you never know when your skills will come in handy.
 
OMG 🤯, I'm still shook after watching that video! I mean, I know it's crazy that this guy rode out a tornado in his van, but can you even imagine being in that situation? 😱 I'd be freaking out if I was stuck on the side of the road with no place to go. The fact that he was able to stay calm and drive away when it was all over is just incredible 🙌. It's definitely a good reminder for all of us to take those tornado warnings seriously and seek shelter ASAP ⛈️. My little ones would never survive in a situation like that, I'm so grateful they're safe and sound at home 😊.
 
omg, 165 mph is crazy!!! 🤯 chart: average wind speeds for EF-3 tornadoes vs global average wind speed. like, what are the chances that the van was the safest place? 🚐🌪️ stats: 4 deaths reported in Wynne, 1 death reported in North Little Rock; total tornado-related fatalities this year have surpassed 100. also, Cody Coombes' van has like 6 airbags... 💨
 
can you imagine having to drive through that?! like, i get it, you're a pest control guy and you need to be on the road, but seriously... 165mph winds? that's just crazy! 🤯 i'm so glad he was able to find shelter in his van, though. i mean, those tornadoes are no joke. my kids would freak out if they had to experience something like that. do you think he'll be able to get the van cleaned up and ready for business again? 😬
 
I don’t usually comment but I just saw this crazy video of a dude riding out an EF-3 tornado in his pest control van 🤯 and I gotta say, I would’ve gone crazy 😂 if I was in his shoes! I mean, 165 mph is insane ⚡️. It’s one thing to hear about the weather warning on the radio but to actually have to face that kind of intensity is a whole different story. How does he not get hurt? 🤔

It's crazy how the video footage shows the storm's raw power, it's like you're right there with him 😲. I'm glad he's okay but at the same time, what if he wasn't? What if his van had gotten damaged or flipped over? It’s a good reminder to always take those weather warnings seriously and seek shelter when needed 🌪️.

I don’t know about anyone else but it made me appreciate my own safe roof above 😊.
 
Dude, can you believe this guy's ride or die spirit? 😂 I mean, riding out a tornado in a pest control van is straight-up crazy talk. But at the same time, kudos to him for staying calm and saving his own skin. The footage is insane too - those gusts of wind are wild 🌪️.

But what's even more impressive (and a little unsettling) is how we live our lives like tornadoes are just a normal part of life in certain areas. Like, I get that Arkansas has some crazy weather, but this level of destruction? It's just not okay. We should be talking about the infrastructure and emergency preparedness here, not "how to ride out a tornado." 🤯

Anyway, props to Cody for sharing his harrowing experience with us. Let's hope this raises awareness about severe weather and encourages more folks to take it seriously 💡.
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this dude's van being the only safe spot from that EF-3 tornado 🤯. Like, what are the chances, right? And now I'm watching the video and it's like... wow. The winds were insane. 165mph is not something you mess with.

But what really gets me is how the forum's been flooded with people asking for advice on how to survive such a situation. Newsflash: if a tornado warning sounds, GET INSIDE A VEHICLE AND ROLL IT UP 🔒! I mean, it's basic survival 101. Can't we all just learn from this guy and move on? The forum's been full of people speculating about the van's specifications or asking for DIY tips on how to build a tornado shelter... like, come on guys 🙄. Let's focus on sharing stories and offering support instead of asking silly questions.
 
🤔 I don't buy that he was just driving through the area when the tornado warning sounded... seems like some convenient timing? 🚨 Where's the audio from the actual emergency alert system or police chopper? How did Coombes even know there was a tornado coming and decide to park his van in the middle of it? Asking for sources here... 📊
 
Yaaas this dude is literally insane lol, rode that tornado out like it was a Sunday drive 😂. I mean, i'm glad he's alive and all but seriously how does one even survive something like that? The wind speeds alone are crazy at 165mph, no wonder the road looked like a war zone afterwards. On a serious note tho, what's crazy is that he didn't get hurt too badly considering he was basically driving through the eye of a tornado 🤯. You gotta respect his survival instincts and also kinda feel bad for anyone who lost their life in the storm 😔.
 
I'm still in shock watching that video of Cody Coombes riding out the EF-3 tornado in his van 🤯. I mean, can you believe someone's life just got turned upside down like that? I remember watching that documentary about Jodie Foster surviving the earthquake back in '94 and now this guy's having a similar experience 🌪️. It just goes to show how quickly nature can turn on us. And I'm thinking, what was going through his mind when he saw all that debris flying around outside? Was he thinking of his family or something? Anyway, I hope the guy's okay and gets the help he needs... it's days like this that make you appreciate the comforts of being indoors while watching a storm from safety 🏠.
 
Back
Top