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

"Arkansas Man's Narrow Escape as Tornado Tears Through"

A harrowing video has surfaced of a man riding out a devastating EF-3 tornado inside his pest control van in Little Rock, Arkansas. The intense storm ripped through Pulaski and Lonoke counties, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of several people.

According to eyewitness accounts, Cody Coombes was in his van when the tornado struck, narrowly avoiding being sucked into the vortex. Witnesses described the scene as "apocalyptic," with debris scattered everywhere and buildings reduced to rubble.

Coombes recounted his experience, saying he rode out the storm inside his van, which allegedly provided some protection from the wind and debris. The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-3 tornado had touched down in the area, with estimated peak winds of 165 mph.

The tornado was particularly destructive in North Little Rock, where one person lost their life. Four others were killed in Wynne, a small town just outside of Little Rock.

The storm's devastating impact is being felt across the region, with many residents left to survey the damage and begin the process of recovery.

This harrowing video serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather events and the importance of seeking shelter immediately when a tornado warning is issued.

OMG, what a close call for that dude! Riding out an EF-3 tornado in his van? That's either insane or super genius – I'm still trying to decide . Either way, it's crazy how the wind and debris just scattered everywhere like it was nothing. North Little Rock is gonna need some serious rebuilding ASAP .

I mean, as scary as this is, it's also kinda good that we have videos of these events so we can learn from them? It's all about being prepared, right? I guess you could say Cody Coombes got a sweet spot – literally. His van was like the ultimate tornado shelter!

But seriously though, only 6 lives lost is kinda crazy considering how intense the storm was. Fingers crossed everyone else is okay and can bounce back soon .

ugh i was watching that video last night before bed , can't believe cody coombes was in his van during the tornado lol what if he wasn't lucky?! anyway, 165 mph winds are crazy imagine being outside in that... did anyone see where the storm forecast said it'd hit next? also i heard it was a really long warning time before the tornado hit so hope people got to get to safety quickly

omg that guy is literally insane lol i mean what was he thinking driving around in a tornado his van got him through that thing which is wild because those things usually don't save anyone but idk maybe his van had some special features or something? anyway the footage is so intense it's like you can feel the winds and debris everywhere the destruction in north little rock is just devastating imagine waking up to find your house gone like that i'm glad he made it out alive though because the thought of what could've happened is just too much to handle

can you believe this dude's luck? he was literally just driving around with his pest control van when BAM! that EF-3 tornado comes out of nowhere #TornadoSurvivor #PestControlVanSavesLife. I mean, I've seen some crazy stuff in my time online, but this is straight-up insane . and the fact that it even protected him from the debris is just wild #NatureIsFreaky. so sad to hear about all those lives lost in Wynne though, prayers for them and their families . we should all take a page out of Coombes' book and be prepared for these types of situations #TornadoSafetyMatters. anyone else have a crazy weather story they wanna share?

Ugh, I'm so glad that guy rode out the storm in his van like that's the best way to survive a tornado... Newsflash: it's not. The fact that he didn't get sucked in or anything more horrific is just crazy luck. All the while, people who were actually seeking shelter had to deal with chaos and destruction . I mean, what even makes this video "harrowing" again? Is it because some dude in a van lived to tell the tale? Come on...

I mean, what's up with these pest control vans being built like tanks? Cody Coombes was basically driving around with his own personal safe inside it . Not trying to be dramatic or anything but that's just some crazy luck that the wind and debris didn't totally rip the thing apart.

And can we talk about how many people are saying "well, he must have known something we didn't" ? Like, no, dude was basically flying around in a tornado and somehow managed to avoid getting killed. That's not survival skills, that's just being lucky.

The more I think about it the more I'm thinking they should make all these EF-3 warnings way more clear like, what if someone's driving by and doesn't see this coming? Shouldn't they have some sort of warning system for when you're in an area with a tornado? Just saying.

That's terrifying ! As they say, "When you're in a hole, stop digging" - just kidding, that's not it... "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams" but for some people, that's way too late when disaster strikes. It's heartbreaking to see the destruction and loss of life, but at least we know how lucky Cody Coombes was to be riding out the storm in his van .

Man that's crazy! I mean, can you believe he just chillin' in his pest control van while the whole town gets destroyed around him? That thing must've been like a bomb shelter or something. I guess it's good to know that some vehicles are designed for this kinda stuff Anyway, my heart goes out to all those affected by the tornado, especially the family of the person who lost their life in North Little Rock. Hope they get the support and help they need ASAP

idk why people are freakin out about this tornado lol it's not like it was some crazy, once-in-a-lifetime thing or anything. everyone knows twisters happen in arkansas all the time! coombes just happened to be in the right van at the right time, that's it . he's basically a superhero now . and yeah, maybe his van did provide some protection or whatever, but let's not get carried away here . and honestly, 165mph winds? that's not even that crazy compared to the ones we see on tv during hurricane season . i'm just saying, it's all relative...

can u believe this guy's van is like a bulletproof box or something? i mean, what are the chances he just happens to be in his van with all the windows closed during a tornado? it's crazy how that thing kept him safe from all the debris and wind. but honestly, shouldn't we be more prepared for this kind of stuff? like, tornado shelters and emergency services should be way better equipped to handle situations like this. and what about all those people who weren't so lucky? still can't wrap my head around how quickly it goes from sunny skies to total destruction.

what's crazy is how close that guy was to getting caught in that massive tornado! I mean, can you imagine being inside your van when that thing hits? It's like something out of a movie . I'm just glad he made it out alive and with his sanity intact . And yeah, the destruction is just devastating... it's hard to even put into words how bad it looks in those videos . We're all sending our thoughts to the families of those who lost their lives .

omg can u believe this guy was literally riding out a tornado in his van lol i mean idk how crazy that is but also kinda admirable? i guess having that pest control van as a makeshift safe space did the trick. anyway, so sad about all those lives lost and destruction everywhere . it's really scary to think about how quickly things can go from normal to apocalyptic like in this video . hope everyone affected by the storm is doing okay and getting the help they need

Man, that guy was so lucky!! Riding out a tornado in his van? That's insane! I'm just glad he was safe. I feel for all those people who lost their lives in Wynne, it's just heartbreaking. The destruction is crazy, I've seen some devastating videos of tornadoes before but this one takes the cake. We need to be extra careful during severe weather warnings, no excuses . It's like, if you're going outside, make sure you have a plan and know what to do in case of an emergency. This video is definitely making me want to double-check my weather apps more often .

omg, can't believe this dude got so lucky! i mean, riding out an EF-3 tornado in his van? that's insane! idk how much protection it actually gave him but still the aftermath is just devastating... all those people lost their lives and homes destroyed. and what's with the lack of warning systems in this area? shouldn't they have been able to predict or prepare for this disaster better? anyway, glad no one else was hurt (that we know of) but seriously, tornadoes are NO JOKE

Man's close call in the van is insane! I mean, can you even imagine being inside that van while a tornado is tearing through? It's crazy how it protected him like that. I'm no expert, but apparently it was some sort of metal body or something that shielded him from the worst of it. Anyway, this video is giving me nightmares lol. The destruction in North Little Rock and Wynne is just devastating. You can see why they say these storms are 'apocalyptic'. It's like, what even is left to do after something like this? At least Coombes made it out alive, that's a miracle right there!

What's up with these vans?! Like, Cody Coombes was just chillin' in his pest control van while the whole city goes to pot . I mean, I guess it's cool that he made it out alive, but seriously, who drives around during a tornado? And what kind of protection does a van really offer from 165mph winds?! It's just crazy how much destruction these storms can cause... and we need to be like "shelter NOW" or else .

omg what an insane escape that guy gotta be super lucky or what? 165mph is crazy i was watching this vid on twitter and my heart just stopped cant believe anyone survived that and still have to deal with all the aftermath coombes van did seem like a good spot tho maybe those metal walls saved him from getting sucked in lol anyway gotta feel for everyone affected by that tornado really hope the ppl of arkansas are doing ok