A harrowing tale of survival unfolded in the midst of a devastating tornado that tore through Little Rock, Arkansas. Cody Coombes, a 35-year-old man, recounted his terrifying experience being trapped inside his pest control van as the EF-3 tornado raged on.
"It was like nothing I've ever experienced before," an emotional Coombs told CNN. "The roar of the tornado was deafening, and I couldn't see anything due to the debris-filled air."
With estimated peak winds of 165 mph, the tornado had a profound impact on Pulaski and Lonoke counties, leaving one person dead in North Little Rock and four more fatalities in Wynne.
Miraculously, Coombs emerged from his van unscathed, but shaken. The traumatic event has left him with a newfound respect for the power of nature.
"I was lucky to have made it out alive," Coombs said, still visibly rattled by the experience. "It's a reminder that we should always be prepared and take necessary precautions during severe weather conditions."
The harrowing footage of Coombs' ordeal, captured by CNN, offers a gripping insight into the horrors faced by those caught in the tornado's path.
As the nation continues to reel from this devastating storm, one thing is clear: the power of nature must not be underestimated. The bravery and resilience displayed by Cody Coombs serve as a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome even the most daunting challenges.
"It was like nothing I've ever experienced before," an emotional Coombs told CNN. "The roar of the tornado was deafening, and I couldn't see anything due to the debris-filled air."
With estimated peak winds of 165 mph, the tornado had a profound impact on Pulaski and Lonoke counties, leaving one person dead in North Little Rock and four more fatalities in Wynne.
Miraculously, Coombs emerged from his van unscathed, but shaken. The traumatic event has left him with a newfound respect for the power of nature.
"I was lucky to have made it out alive," Coombs said, still visibly rattled by the experience. "It's a reminder that we should always be prepared and take necessary precautions during severe weather conditions."
The harrowing footage of Coombs' ordeal, captured by CNN, offers a gripping insight into the horrors faced by those caught in the tornado's path.
As the nation continues to reel from this devastating storm, one thing is clear: the power of nature must not be underestimated. The bravery and resilience displayed by Cody Coombs serve as a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome even the most daunting challenges.
i'm so glad cody made it out alive tho, it's like his body just decided to not give up 
what really gets me though is how he's shaken but still trying to make sense of it all - you can tell he's reflecting on the experience and learning from it 
we should def be more prepared for these kinds of situations, tornadoes are no joke 
165 mph is just crazy! It's like, how can something so powerful be unleashed on our world? The fact that Cody Coombes' van was basically his only shelter and he made it out alive... that's just insane 
. I mean, we all know weather warnings are there for a reason, but sometimes you gotta take it to the next level 
. We should all be grateful for people like him who can share their harrowing stories so we learn from them and stay safe 
.
. Cody Coombes is a total hero for surviving that and sharing his story with the world 
.
. That's some serious survival skills he must have to stay in that van during the storm 
️. Reminds me to stock up on emergency supplies and check my tornado evacuation plan ASAP 
. But honestly, his attitude is so inspiring - like, we can all learn from this and be more prepared for natural disasters 
. This is a good reminder to always prioritize our safety during bad weather 
According to NOAA, there were over 1,200 tornadoes in 2022 alone 
75% of them occurred in May and June, when temperatures are warmest 
. The footage of him trapped in his van was super intense... like something out of a horror movie 
. And yeah, you're right, the power of nature is not to be underestimated 
. But seriously, I feel so bad for Cody Coombs, being trapped in that van must've been like something out of a nightmare. And poor guy, four people lost their lives 
. It's just another reminder to always be prepared and take those severe weather warnings seriously 
. Glad he made it out alive, but poor dude is still shaking from the experience 
and yeah we gotta be prepared for those kinds of storms, doesn't matter how much prep you do tho, tornadoes are just wild 
and I dont blame him for being shook after going thru all that
i mean, 165mph is crazy fast! 
i feel so bad for all those people who lost their lives in this tragedy 
