A Man Rode Out a Tornado in His Van to Stay Alive - Here's How He Did It.
In a shocking display of bravery, one man rode out a powerful EF-3 tornado in his pest control van. The National Weather Service reported that the tornado swept through Pulaski and Lonoke counties in Arkansas with winds reaching an estimated 165 mph, causing widespread destruction and claiming several lives.
Cody Coombes, who witnessed the devastating storm from the safety of his vehicle, recounted his harrowing experience in a CNN video interview. "I knew I had to get out of there as fast as I could," Coombes said, visibly shaken by the event. "But my van is equipped with all sorts of protective features, including reinforced walls and a metal frame, that helped shield me from the storm's fury."
Coombes' quick thinking and preparedness likely saved his life, as he rode out the tornado for an estimated 10 minutes before it passed. Despite the chaos and destruction around him, Coombes emerged from his van with only minor injuries, a testament to his bravery and the effectiveness of his vehicle's design.
The EF-3 tornado that struck Arkansas on April 2 was one of the most destructive in recent memory, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. As authorities continue to assess the damage and tend to the wounded, Coombes' harrowing experience serves as a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of extreme weather events.
Watch Cody Coombes' account of riding out the tornado in his van on CNN's website.
In a shocking display of bravery, one man rode out a powerful EF-3 tornado in his pest control van. The National Weather Service reported that the tornado swept through Pulaski and Lonoke counties in Arkansas with winds reaching an estimated 165 mph, causing widespread destruction and claiming several lives.
Cody Coombes, who witnessed the devastating storm from the safety of his vehicle, recounted his harrowing experience in a CNN video interview. "I knew I had to get out of there as fast as I could," Coombes said, visibly shaken by the event. "But my van is equipped with all sorts of protective features, including reinforced walls and a metal frame, that helped shield me from the storm's fury."
Coombes' quick thinking and preparedness likely saved his life, as he rode out the tornado for an estimated 10 minutes before it passed. Despite the chaos and destruction around him, Coombes emerged from his van with only minor injuries, a testament to his bravery and the effectiveness of his vehicle's design.
The EF-3 tornado that struck Arkansas on April 2 was one of the most destructive in recent memory, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. As authorities continue to assess the damage and tend to the wounded, Coombes' harrowing experience serves as a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of extreme weather events.
Watch Cody Coombes' account of riding out the tornado in his van on CNN's website.
. it's just so wild thinking about being inside that thing for 10 minutes while the whole world outside is getting destroyed 
. and yeah, gotta give props to Coombes for being so level-headed in the face of disaster 
. but still, tornadoes are super unpredictable & can be deadly even with all those safety features 
. guess it just goes to show how crazy life can get sometimes 
.
but seriously though can we just start investing in some tornado-proof vehicles already 
and what's with the people who live in these areas like don't they have a say in where they wanna move to ?? it's crazy how much destruction that EF-3 tornado caused i mean i've seen some bad storms before but this one takes the cake 
. I mean, he was literally parked in the middle of nowhere and got hit with winds that strong... it's crazy to think about how his preparedness played such a huge role in him making it out alive 
.
. The reinforced walls and metal frame in his van are impressive, but it was still no guarantee of safety... what if something else went wrong? And I'm sure he's got PTSD or something after going through all that 
.
. It's a sobering reminder that we need to be prepared for natural disasters, but also that there are people out there who can think on their feet and make the most of crazy situations 
.
but you know what's even crazier? how we think about our lives and how we prepare for the unexpected... like Coombes, he was faced with this massive tornado and he just went for it, no hesitation or fear... but what if that wasn't the case? what if he'd gotten scared and tried to run out of there? would his van have been enough? is our preparedness a facade for the uncertainty of life?
His pest control van's reinforced walls and metal frame totally saved his life, which is just insane. I've heard of tornado shelters, but riding out the storm in a vehicle? That's on a whole different level! 
I mean, who needs a fancy emergency shelter when you can just ride out a tornado in your grandma's old pest control van? Like, what's next? Riding out hurricanes in a Honda Civic? 
. And can you believe he's still alive?!?!
Genius, right?! And only minor injuries?! That's insane! 
. I mean, who knows when disaster will strike? Better safe than sorry, right? 
. It's like something out of a movie or a video game. I'm both impressed and terrified at the same time 
️. it's crazy to think he could've been killed if he hadn't had those features 
. also, 10 minutes is a long time to be stuck in a tornado 
... that's just ridiculous! 
. And the fact that his van was able to withstand all that pressure is wild 
. Just thinking about it gives me chills 
! A pest control van is like a tank, right? I'm just glad he didn't have to deal with any squirrels trying to get in during the storm – that would've been a whole different level of crazy 
. Anyway, props to Cody for being the ultimate storm chaser (in a non- insane way, lol) 
i need to get myself a van with reinforced walls stat!!!