A man narrowly escaped death when a powerful tornado tore through the streets of Little Rock, Arkansas. But what's even more astonishing is that he rode out the storm inside his pest control van.
According to eyewitnesses and footage captured by Cody Coombes, an employee of Terminix Pest Control, the EF-3 tornado struck Pulaski and Lonoke counties on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
Coombes was driving home from work when the tornado warning sounded. As he pulled over, the storm intensified, with winds reaching speeds of up to 165 mph. The pest control van proved to be a makeshift shelter for Coombes, who huddled inside as the tornado raged on outside.
"I just prayed and waited for it to pass," Coombes recounted in an interview. "I didn't know what was going on or how long it would last."
The National Weather Service reported that the tornado was classified as EF-3, with wind speeds of at least 136 mph. However, Coombes' van proved to be a lifesaver, protecting him from the intense winds and debris.
"I'm just grateful to be alive," Coombes said in an interview. "I know how close I came to losing my life."
The tornado left one person dead in North Little Rock and four people injured in Wynne. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but authorities say it's significant.
As for Coombes, he's just thankful to have made it through the ordeal unscathed. "I'll never forget this experience," he said. "It was a close call, and I'm just grateful to be alive."
The footage of Coombes' harrowing experience has been shared widely on social media, with many people marveling at his bravery and luck.
"It's an incredible story," said one viewer. "I don't know how he made it through that storm alive."
As for Coombes, he's just trying to put the experience behind him. "I'm just grateful to be back home safe and sound," he said.
The incident serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of being prepared for extreme weather events. As authorities continue to assess the damage, one thing is clear: Cody Coombes' pest control van proved to be more than just a vehicle – it was a lifesaver.
According to eyewitnesses and footage captured by Cody Coombes, an employee of Terminix Pest Control, the EF-3 tornado struck Pulaski and Lonoke counties on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
Coombes was driving home from work when the tornado warning sounded. As he pulled over, the storm intensified, with winds reaching speeds of up to 165 mph. The pest control van proved to be a makeshift shelter for Coombes, who huddled inside as the tornado raged on outside.
"I just prayed and waited for it to pass," Coombes recounted in an interview. "I didn't know what was going on or how long it would last."
The National Weather Service reported that the tornado was classified as EF-3, with wind speeds of at least 136 mph. However, Coombes' van proved to be a lifesaver, protecting him from the intense winds and debris.
"I'm just grateful to be alive," Coombes said in an interview. "I know how close I came to losing my life."
The tornado left one person dead in North Little Rock and four people injured in Wynne. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but authorities say it's significant.
As for Coombes, he's just thankful to have made it through the ordeal unscathed. "I'll never forget this experience," he said. "It was a close call, and I'm just grateful to be alive."
The footage of Coombes' harrowing experience has been shared widely on social media, with many people marveling at his bravery and luck.
"It's an incredible story," said one viewer. "I don't know how he made it through that storm alive."
As for Coombes, he's just trying to put the experience behind him. "I'm just grateful to be back home safe and sound," he said.
The incident serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of being prepared for extreme weather events. As authorities continue to assess the damage, one thing is clear: Cody Coombes' pest control van proved to be more than just a vehicle – it was a lifesaver.
can u believe this dude rode out the tornado in his pest control van?! 
that's some crazy luck! i mean, we're talking EF-3 winds and he's still alive? 
what if he wasn't in that van? would he be lying dead on the ground right now? 
it's definitely a reminder to always be prepared for those extreme weather events. we should all have a plan B, like Coombes did with his van. and to think that's just another day for him at work... pest control is never gonna be boring 
He's definitely got some crazy luck on his side. And can you blame him for being shaken up after that experience? I don't think anyone would be okay if they went through something like that.
Can you believe this guy rode out an EF-3 tornado in his pest control van?! 
I mean, what are the chances of that? The fact that he was driving home from work and just happened to have a safe room in the back of his van is just wild. And can we talk about how convenient it is for his job at Terminix Pest Control? I guess you could say he's got the ultimate on-the-job training... 
Dude, can you imagine having a pest control van as a storm shelter? Like, what's next? A dehumidifier for your basement to keep it from flooding during a hurricane? 
It's like he knew that his van was the real MVP. And the best part? He's not even bragging about it 
, just happy to be alive. I guess you could say his job is the most "exterminative" thing ever 
riding out a tornado in his van like that is wild 
but you can't help but think he was just really lucky too 
didn't mean to sound negative, just saying it's one of those things where you gotta have a split personality, be grateful for what happened and then also acknowledge the luck factor 
! But seriously, it's an incredible reminder of the importance of being prepared for extreme weather events. We should all take a page from Cody Coombes' book and stay safe out there.
I guess you could say his job came in handy, lol. But for real though, it's a reminder to always be prepared and stay safe during extreme weather events. 
I mean, what an incredible story! Cody's van literally saved his life 
, and that's just insane! I'm so glad he made it through without any major injuries 
. And that footage is wild! I've seen some crazy storms on social media before, but this takes the cake.
. We should all be prepared for extreme weather events and know what to do in case something like this happens again. But in the meantime, let's just appreciate Cody's luck and his awesome van 
thats just insane how much of a lifesaver that thing was btw im glad hes ok now
. That tornado was insane, but at least we have people like Coombes who remind us of the importance of being prepared for these disasters 
.
. anyway, gotta respect the guy for making it out alive 
.
!! i mean who needs an ark when u got a pest control van? 
and im so glad he's okay! 
. And the fact that it was his work vehicle that saved him is just wild 
.