A man's harrowing experience riding out a tornado in his van has left onlookers stunned. Cody Coombes, the driver, was forced to take shelter inside his pest control vehicle as an EF-3 tornado tore through Little Rock, Arkansas, leaving destruction and loss of life in its wake.
According to CNN, the National Weather Service reported that the tornado had peak winds of 165 mph, causing widespread damage and casualties. Coombes described how he huddled in the van, waiting for the storm to pass, as the tornado ripped through Pulaski and Lonoke counties.
"I was just trying to stay safe, you know?" Coombes told CNN. "I didn't want to get caught outside."
Miraculously, Coombes emerged from his van unscathed, while others were not so fortunate. One person died in North Little Rock, and four more people lost their lives in the small town of Wynne.
The tornado's devastating impact serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather events. As the nation continues to recover from the aftermath of this disaster, it is essential that residents remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during such extreme conditions.
Watch Cody Coombes' harrowing account of riding out the tornado in his van, and find out more about the devastating impact of this EF-3 tornado.
According to CNN, the National Weather Service reported that the tornado had peak winds of 165 mph, causing widespread damage and casualties. Coombes described how he huddled in the van, waiting for the storm to pass, as the tornado ripped through Pulaski and Lonoke counties.
"I was just trying to stay safe, you know?" Coombes told CNN. "I didn't want to get caught outside."
Miraculously, Coombes emerged from his van unscathed, while others were not so fortunate. One person died in North Little Rock, and four more people lost their lives in the small town of Wynne.
The tornado's devastating impact serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather events. As the nation continues to recover from the aftermath of this disaster, it is essential that residents remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during such extreme conditions.
Watch Cody Coombes' harrowing account of riding out the tornado in his van, and find out more about the devastating impact of this EF-3 tornado.
this is just crazy what if he had a family in that van?? so glad he made it out alive 
the thing is we need better warning systems for severe weather so ppl can prepare and seek shelter before its too late 
and also emergency services should be ready to respond ASAP when these disasters hit 
... like, yeah he had to take shelter in his van but that's just basic common sense, right? And honestly, who needs a fancy storm shelter when you've got a solid vehicle and some quick thinking? I mean, the fact that it wasn't a totally different outcome is what's crazy - people were literally killed or hurt because they weren't prepared. Coombes' van was basically the best shield against all that destruction.
. I mean, Cody's got skills – who needs a tornado shelter when you've got a bug zapper and some steel plates? 
On a serious note though, 165 mph winds are no joke and it's insane he made it out unscathed. Guess you could say he 'bugged' the system a bit to stay safe 
. Anyway, RIP to those who lost their lives – stay safe out there, folks! 
that thing was like a tiny metal box, he must've been super nervous waiting for it to pass. i mean, 165 mph is no joke, can you even imagine what the inside of a van would look like at those speeds? 
. And honestly, watching him ride out the tornado in his van feels more like an advertisement for a pest control service than a genuine news story 
I mean, what would you do if you were trapped with no escape? Cody Coombes' story is super inspiring, but also kinda terrifying 
I'm so glad he made it out alive! The fact that EF-3 tornadoes can have winds of 165 mph is just mind-blowing 
. It's wild how some people are more lucky than others when it comes to these kinds of events... Anyway, glad he made it out okay! 
u gotta feel for this dude coombes... 165mph winds r crazy! i mean, i've seen some intense storm footage before but that's on another level 
. it's always good to be prepared for severe weather events, but sometimes nature can be unpredictable 
.
And can we talk about how crazy those wind speeds were - 165 mph?! It's no wonder people are still trying to wrap their heads around it.
has anyone else got any tips on how to stay safe during severe weather? 
anyway, i'm just glad no one else got hurt besides those 5 people