--- title: Soda Machine Saves Woman from Tornado description: Soda Machine Saves Woman from Tornado --- [![logo.png](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/site/logo/logo.png?width=80&height=65&name=logo.png "logo.png")](https://www.vendinggroup.com) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Vending_Group) [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vending-Group/174125279274403) [** ** ](https://plus.google.com/103512082635347214863) [Customer Service](https://www.vendinggroup.com/industry-leading-customer-service) ### *Office Vending Services | Beverage & Snack Machines* view our [service areas](https://www.vendinggroup.com/service-areas) # Learning ## Soda Machine Saves Woman from Tornado [fa icon="clock-o"] Jun 8, 2016 8:00:00 PM [fa icon="user"] [Vending Group](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/author/vending-group) You may have heard of a[ recent story](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/03/03/this-woman-hid-behind-a-vending-machine-during-a-deadly-tornado-and-survived/) involving a soda machine and a tornado. No doubt an odd combination for the news, but not entirely since it is tornado season in parts of the country. According to the report, FedEx employee Kyra Johnson found herself stuck in the middle of a deadly tornado in Paincourtville, LA. Replacing fear with the need to survive, Johnson acted quickly and sought shelter behind a vending machine outside a local hardware store that had been closed. As the tornado blew over much of the store, Johnson was safe and sound next to the machine. WeÛªre happy that Johnson survived the terrifying ordeal. It also got us thinking about the way vending machines are made and their size. Are they really that durable? **Machines that are built to last.** A soda machine is made with four primary materials with the bulk of it being galvanized steel. Other materials include lexan, acrylic powder coatings, and polyurethane insulation. Add in the computer boards, coin and dollar bill mechanisms, and a compressor to keep the sodas cold, and it becomes an extremely heavy piece of equipment. Check out [this article](http://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Vending-Machine.html) for more information about how vending machines are made. **How big are soda machines?** While equipment varies depending on the model, the **average size of a vending machine is around ****72"x39"x33".** ThatÛªs certainly enough room for someone to hide behind from a tornado stream-rolling towards them. When itÛªs stocked full of product, the machine can weigh upwards of 650-700 pounds. View our [vending machine size guide](https://www.vendinggroup.com/vending-machine-size-guide) for more specifications on different machines. Needless to say, a soda machine is a very sturdy piece of equipment on its own. Although the machine Johnson hid behind had fallen over from the force of the winds, it's still a testament to the durability of vending machines. View the dramatic video below. WeÛªre happy that Ms. Johnson survived such a horrifying incident!   ## Frequently Asked Questions About Soda Machines ### How did a soda machine help a woman during a tornado? A FedEx employee named Kyra Johnson sought shelter behind a soda machine outside a hardware store during a deadly tornado. The machine provided protection from the tornado's force, helping her survive the ordeal. ### What materials are soda machines made of that make them durable? Soda machines are primarily made of galvanized steel, along with lexan, acrylic powder coatings, and polyurethane insulation. These materials contribute to their sturdiness and durability. ### What is the average size of a soda machine? The average size of a vending machine is approximately 72 inches tall, 39 inches wide, and 33 inches deep. This size is large enough for someone to hide behind in an emergency. ### How much does a fully stocked soda machine weigh? A soda machine stocked full of products can weigh between 650 and 700 pounds, making it a very heavy and sturdy piece of equipment. ### Did the soda machine remain standing during the tornado? The soda machine that Kyra Johnson hid behind did fall over due to the tornado's force, but it still demonstrated significant durability given the extreme conditions. ### Where can I find more information about vending machine sizes and construction? Additional details about vending machine sizes can be found in the vending machine size guide linked in the post, and information about how vending machines are made is available through the referenced article on MadeHow.com. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Vending Group](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/site/logo/logo.png?width=100&height=100&name=logo.png) #### Written by [Vending Group](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/author/vending-group) ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Vending Management (98)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/vending-management) - [Vending Machines (91)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/vending-machines) - [Customer Experience (68)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/customer-experience) - [Products (49)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/products) - [Workplace (33)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/workplace) - [Hospitality (29)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/hospitality) - [Multifamily Housing (20)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/multifamily-housing) - [Logistics & Warehousing (13)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/logistics-warehousing) - [Procurement (12)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/procurement) - [Retail (12)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/retail) - [Coffee Vending (9)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/coffee-vending) - [Massage Chairs (4)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/massage-chairs) - [office water (4)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/office-water) - [micro-market (3)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/micro-market) - [Laundry (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/laundry) - [college (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/college) [see all](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/soda-machine-saves-woman-from-tornado#) ### Categories - [Coffee Vending (9)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/coffee-vending) - [college (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/college) - [Customer Experience (68)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/customer-experience) - [Hospitality (29)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/hospitality) - [Laundry (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/laundry) - [Logistics & Warehousing (13)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/logistics-warehousing) - [Massage Chairs (4)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/massage-chairs) © 2012 - 2026 Vending Group, Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://blog.vendinggroup.com/soda-machine-saves-woman-from-tornado#blogposting", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "about" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Soda Machine", "sameAs" : "https://blog.vendinggroup.com/soda-machine-saves-woman-from-tornado" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Tornado Safety" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Vending Machine Materials" } ], "articleSection" : [ "Tornado Survival", "Vending Machine Durability", "Product Materials", "Emergency Shelter", "Vending Industry Stories" ], "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.vendinggroup.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Vending Group", "url" : "https://www.vendinggroup.com" }, "dateModified" : "2024-06-05T12:00:00-06:00", "datePublished" : "2016-06-09T00:00:00-06:00", "description" : "A FedEx employee survived a deadly tornado by taking shelter behind a sturdy soda machine made of galvanized steel and other durable materials. 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