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

A Man Survives a Tornado by Riding Out the Storm in His Van

In a harrowing incident, a man in Little Rock, Arkansas, rode out a powerful EF-3 tornado inside his pest control van. The National Weather Service reported that the tornado tore through Pulaski and Lonoke counties, causing significant damage and loss of life.

Eyewitness accounts describe the terrifying experience of being caught in the midst of the storm. Cody Coombes, the man who survived the ordeal, recounted riding out the tornado in his vehicle, saying "I just hunkered down and tried to be as safe as possible." The estimated peak winds of 165 mph were nearly unimaginable for anyone caught outside.

Tragically, one person died in North Little Rock, while four others lost their lives in Wynne. The storm's impact was felt across the region, with widespread destruction reported in various areas.

The incident highlights the importance of weather preparedness and seeking shelter during severe storms. For those who were not fortunate enough to have a safe place to ride out the tornado, it serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and power of nature.

The footage of Coombes riding out the storm has been released by CNN, offering a harrowing glimpse into the experience of surviving such an extreme weather event.

Man, that's crazy ! I mean, can you even imagine being in a van during a tornado? That's some next-level stuff right there! Cody Coombes' story is a total testament to how important it is to be prepared for those severe storms. Like, having a safe place to hole up is key, ya know? It's not like he was trying to be some kind of superhero or anything, just trying to ride out the storm and stay alive . And the fact that his van even held up against that crazy 165 mph winds is just wild . Anyways, I'm glad he made it out okay, but also super grateful for people like him who can share their stories so we all can learn from 'em .

Can you believe that dude was literally driving his van through the tornado and made it out alive ?! I mean, I've heard of people finding shelter in their cars before, but this is on a whole other level! The fact that he just hunkered down and waited it out is just so... so... wow. It's crazy to think about how close some people came to not making it.

And yeah, the footage is super intense. I don't know if I could watch it over and over again, but at the same time, you gotta respect the dude for being so calm and collected in the face of all that destruction. We should all be like him, right? Just kidding, sorta. Seriously though, this is a huge wake-up call about weather preparedness. It's just not worth taking those chances.

OMG that's crazy! I mean, who would've thought to ride out a tornado in their van?! It's like, super commendable that Cody was able to stay calm and think clearly in that situation - hunkering down must've been his best bet! As scary as it is, it's also kinda impressive that he made it through. The footage from CNN is really intense, I wouldn't wanna be in his shoes . It just goes to show how unpredictable these storms can be and how important it is to have a plan in place when severe weather hits . We should all take a page out of Cody's book and make sure we're prepared for the worst .

Man, this is wild . I was watching that video with my family and we were all on the edge of our seats. I'm glad Coombes made it out alive, but wow, what a terrifying experience . My granddad used to tell me stories about tornadoes when he was younger, how they'd rip through towns and destroy everything in their path. It's crazy to think that's still happening today .

I've got a friend who lives in Oklahoma and he's always talking about the severe weather they get out there. I never thought I'd see the day where someone would survive a tornado by riding it out in their van! It just goes to show you, though - when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right? Or in this case, when life throws a tornado at ya, grab hold of the wheel and hope for the best .

can you imagine having to deal with that kinda stress & adrenaline rush in ur daily life lol . seriously tho, i feel bad for everyone affected by this tornado. it's crazy that someone managed to survive in their van tho - like, how did they even know where to park or anything? safety features in those vans must be super important now. and what about the van itself? is it gonna need some serious repairs? just wondering if there's any footage of the aftermath of the van itself, not just Coombes' crazy ride out.

OMG, can you even imagine being in that situation?! Like, how does one survive a tornado just by hiding in a van? It's crazy that Cody was able to make it through with his life. The damage and loss of life is just devastating - my heart goes out to everyone affected by this disaster.

We need more people like Cody who are prepared for extreme weather events. I'm all about being safe and taking precautions when it comes to natural disasters. It's not just about riding out the storm in your van, though - we need better emergency shelters and infrastructure in place.

That footage of Cody is wild... I don't think I could've handled seeing something like that . The National Weather Service is doing its part by reporting on severe weather events, but we still need more awareness about tornadoes and how to stay safe during them.

I mean, can you believe this guy rode out an EF-3 tornado in his van?! 165 mph winds and he just hunkered down? That's some crazy bravery (or crazy luck ) right there! Did you see that video from CNN? The wind was so strong it was picking up trash and debris like crazy! Anyway, did you know tornadoes are the #1 cause of weather-related deaths in the US? 2025 is already seeing some intense storms. It's crazy how fast weather can change. On a related note, have you seen the stats on tornado season in AR? March & April are the worst months!

Man, that's crazy! I'm still trying to wrap my head around someone actually riding out a tornado in their van. It just goes to show how unpredictable nature can be and how important it is to have a safe place to seek shelter during severe storms. 165 mph winds are insane! And the fact that one person lost their life in this incident is just heartbreaking. I hope Cody Coombes is doing okay after surviving such an traumatic experience. It's also crazy to think about all the people who weren't as lucky and had to deal with the aftermath of the storm.

omg this guy is literally a superhero he rode out that tornado like it was nothing #TornadoSurvivor #WeatherHero I mean can you even imagine being outside during one of those things? 165mph winds, dude! That's insane and the fact that he just hunkered down in his van and waited it out is seriously inspiring to me. we should all take a page from his book and have a plan for when severe weather hits #WeatherPreparedness #StaySafe

Wow , I mean, can you even imagine being inside a tornado? Like, 165 mph winds are INSANE ! And to think Coombes just kinda rode it out in his van... that's some crazy survival skills right there . It's just wild to think about how quickly things can go from calm to complete chaos . I'm glad he made it out alive, but at the same time, four lives lost is just devastating . It really makes you appreciate the importance of having a safe place to ride out storms... like, if you had one of those fancy underground shelters or something . Anyway, hope Coombes gets some help and support after this traumatic experience .

I cant even imagine being in that situation lol i had to evacuate my flat during a bad storm last year and i was so anxious the whole time trying to get everyone to safety but i heard about this guy who rode out a tornado in his van like what are the chances i feel bad for those people who lost their lives tho it's just crazy how powerful tornadoes can be and yeah weather preparedness is super important let's all just try to stay safe during these extreme storms

omg can you even believe this dude rode out a tornado in his van lol what if he was still inside his truck when it hit he would've been toast idk how that guy's brain worked out but seriously these storms are INSANE 165mph winds? that's like riding a rollercoaster with the speed of light i feel bad for those who didn't make it tho this is such a harsh reminder to always prioritize your safety during bad weather