Extended interview: 8-year-old Oklahoma boy on surviving EF-4 tornado

In this extended clip, 8-year-old River Garrett tells CBS News' Dave Malkoff about surviving an EF-4 tornado that hit his hometown of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in May. "My mom said, and I say it to myself - I can't make this about me," River said.
#news #tornado #weather
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[@katieg1763]

Oh my goodness. River is on a higher level than most of us. What an incredible child with a beautiful old soul.

[@rosetheis1403]

I am just glad that he is okay

[@0021cam]

It’s not just the name but he reminds me of River Phoenix in how he talks, if is it just me 🫣 anyway precious beautiful child 💕🙏🏻 parents must feel very blessed.

[@pcavesnana]

The interviewer was so good with this little guy.

[@swilliams1759]

What a smart little guy. He is precious, and so caring. When he said, "I can't let this be about me..." Oohh. He will grow up to be a good man, he already has strong roots.

[@aprilmcknight1574]

He is so mature and loving, he must have great parents

[@debidelaney3819]

What a handsome little man. So aware and intelligent! May his future be bright and peaceful.

[@zuzuspetals8323]

God bless that young boy. He is wise beyond his years.

[@janeayre96]

He’s adorable. I hope we can save enough of our planet for him to grow up.

[@kellyc4144]

Yes!

[@Unterrifieddragoncat]

What a very articulate young man.

[@travels3577]

Yep, he’s definitely has a purpose in this life

[@renaepetersen2393]

That's a smart kid. It's hard to balance the part where you "can't make it all about me" with dealing with the part that really is about you. You experienced it, you lost everything that was familiar in a matter of minutes. Yes, a lot of people did, but your loss is no less important. But when an 8- year old kid can understand that when you put others first, it gives you purpose, and that in turn will give you strength, that's pretty amazing.

[@BonnieBlue1861]

The weight of the world is on his little shoulders. Bless his sweet little heart. Lord be with him and his family and community.

[@msbutterfly714]

in Jesus name, AMEN

[@AndreaCrisp]

Thank you for sharing this interview. The reporter did an amazing job connecting with the child and letting him talk. When he said that it couldn't be about him I started to cry. Life can be so hard. I'm glad he's okay and has his family to help him through. What a precious soul.

[@dee4435]

I see a future community leader who cares about everyone.

[@LisaPrecious]

respect for CBS's reporter on doing such a caring, respectful and charming take on a news story. He and River's interview was of the ilk we rarely see on TV news anymore...

[@thenightporter]

Exactly

[@MS-cl5lz]

What a sweetheart .

[@nicoler3499]

What a sweet little dude. 🙏🏻

[@lain5678]

What a sweet, brave, articulate and extremely resilient little kid. Support and love from Ireland 💚😔

[@Noneya5241]

Precious child has been through so much😢 He has a beautiful perspective

[@boxpleasebox]

I hope everyone can help bring his simple request to have a home again now. ❤🏡

[@Tori_T_Artist]

exactly 😢 everybody's complimenting his wisdom but the thing is, wisdom comes from trial and trauma

[@Neverland4747]

Beautiful soul that child has

[@CrossCultural-c7f]

An articulate 8 year old! His vocabulary is remarkable.

[@terose5571]

He's so precious, and it stinks to get hit by a tornado when so many others don't and go on with their normal life...your life totally changes, not anything normal at all. PLEASE keep tornado victims in your prayers

[@deborahweber1397]

What a treasure River is! I don’t even know how this child’s ❤ fits in his chest! Kudos to his family for the extraordinary young man they are raising!

[@roxysmom1986]

This kid is a lot braver and stronger than I’ll ever be

[@outoftheklosset]

His loss is just as important as anyone else's.😢

[@gfxgirl1]

❤River, you are such a WONDERFUL young man!!!! Blessings to you and your family! So happy that you are all safe!!

[@mammamia200]

What an intelligent conversation between this sweet kind hearted smart young man and reporter. Im so sorry his family lost their home in such a devastating way. Prayers they get a new home quickly 🙏

[@zoebear1992]

Just precious!

[@GrillWasabi]

Aww poor boy! He needs a gofundme page!

[@noniemarley7012]

Extraordinary little man.

[@commoditycheeze9184]

Brave little man!

[@EagleSpirit2825]

River for Mayor!! I have family in Bartlesville.

[@maryrichards6166]

Seems funny yet a young boy I think of 12 came Mayor of his town way back. A movie was made about it

[@dragonladyhs75]

River is a “Okie” through and through! What an amazing young man……..Greetings from Tulsa, Oklahoma

[@joandevries1892]

The people at school didn't know about the tornado? River for mayor!

[@lkj974]

kind of doubt that. I think they were pulling his leg about that.

[@SS-iw2nq]

So mature, articulate, humble for his age.

[@c0267w]

He is a warrior beyond his age 👍

[@elizabethmusso5946]

🥹❤️🏆 Sweetie. And the empathy of the interviewer… ❤

[@anneredmoon]

Thank you for sharing this interview with us. Gives me faith in humanity.

[@rb8289]

I hope and pray you are okay. So brave ❤

[@trueloveingod2691]

What a sweet, smart little boy. May God give him and his family a new house in a safe area.

[@boxpleasebox]

@@trueloveingod2691 and people reading this contribute to his new home start a fundraiser ❤️ along with god !

[@pal7252]

OMG! What a beautiful little boy. He and his family were spared for a reason. Big things are coming, in a good way. ❤😊

[@mteokay1246]

Stay strong bud !

[@lydiaanderson824]

This child is gifted.

[@bettyboo5589]

This little boy is incredible. Bless him.

[@mariehenley5305]

I know his parents are proud of him .they can be proud of their self too. This eight child communicates And answers better than most adults .

[@NguyenVinhHang]

Stay safe and you are still here. Happy for you River and your family that you’re still with us 😊

[@lady4recovery]

More adults should follow this boys wisdom

[@anns1921]

God bless this sweet child and I hope he gets everything he needs and wants and more. What a special kid!

[@user-jk2hb5qq8r]

Praise God that they are alright. He done so well, 😊 I hope things get back to normal for him soon!

[@abbij2009]

Why not save everyone else from the tornado? Why just him? Your God has favorites I see.

[@cecilemorgan6579]

Precious angel ❤

[@maurawhelan3530]

This poor child having to live through this at his age. He is amazing. God bless his community. Such a cutie

[@Daniel-nr6iw]

Beautiful boy.

[@kathleenredick275]

Props to his parents for guiding him through the realities of this, both good and bad. ❤

[@judyg2889]

🙏Hope they can get the support & funds they need to finish clean up & Rebuild/ Brave little Boy!!!

[@lisaengel89]

Sweet boy! Prayers for River and his family.

[@KarenW672]

What a mature, sweet, well spoken little boy. Blessings for a long, healthy, happy future ❤

[@criticaloptimist]

Omg what a sweet angel!

[@stephmartin1148]

Ahh bless these families and all families and people who deal with tornadoes!! I have a sweet River my self. Glad this boy and his family are safe!! So sorry they lost their home. 🙏🏼

[@cindyoconnell2471]

What a nice little boy! I hope they can rebuild and his life will get back to normal!

[@mikebrooks5282]

Is there a way to help river and his family?

[@annmcginnis6531]

I'm so glad you are safe River. You are so brave and a caring kind boy. ❤

[@michelleloynes7825]

Bless this little man 🙏

[@jamieapplejoy501]

Sweet boy 😢

[@dottiebaker6623]

Don't contradict his mother. It's not about him. She's helping him deal with it.

[@Tilly-767]

Dottie Baker, I commented the same thing.

[@carolcielle]

Amen! That was my first thought. I’m watching and internally fussing at the reporter. Mama taught him well and as someone who works in education, I wish ti goodness more parents would teach their children the same concept about many things in life!

[@michelepayne3546]

In saying what he said, I think the reporter was validating River's feelings. In that respect, it's very much about him. Much like when he said that it's okay to see "happy" things about the experience also.

[@chrispavlich9656]

@@michelepayne3546 Yep, because if it WASN’T about him then why are they conducting the interview?

[@Tilly-767]

@@carolcielle Right, amen.

[@kelseytijerina9163]

This boy ❤❤❤

[@Diaz4prez]

Young River how proud your parents must be seeing you display wisdom beyond your years Blessings from Iowa

[@srezzy1326]

Dear self! What a sweet child! God bless Bartlesville! I also appreciate the interviewer, thoughtful questions and waited for a response. Wasn’t rushed.

[@rickylong2768]

Wow as a grown man that made me cry a lil for this brave lil guy

[@sunshine711sn2]

Such a handsome and smart kid. I wish him and his family nothin but the best. I pray he gets his room and robots replaced ASAP!!!❤

[@rachelsgibson8318]

What a little sweetheart. With such big words❤

[@josephhernandez5701]

Omg poor kid ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@geezerguy6410]

I know this sounds strange...I moved from California to Collinsville Oklahoma in 2008 about 20 miles south of Bartlesville. On March 25 2015 at 6:02PM I was flung by a tornado and my home and shop distroyed. I landed in the backyard of my next door neighbor an Owasso PD officer. When he asked through the rain an blackness if I was ok the first words out my mouth mouth were "you can see me?". I smile evertime I think about that day. I joined Owasso 180 dropped 225 pounds, and at 72 I'm enjoying a new career climbing towers and cranes. One communities tragedy, can be a life saving event for one person....stay safe.

[@wendyh3891]

God Bless you River! I wish you a long happy life in a nice new home & best of all no more tornadoes! ❤❤❤❤❤ from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@LadyMul]

Emotionally intelligent wee lad. Hope he gets his home and peace of mind soon 🥰

[@sabevabg]

Thank you , River , for telling your story.

[@amybk0122]

Aw buddy you are amazing, your parents must be pretty great! As a family that had our home ripped apart (one of two in our neighborhood) I agree with you about the randomness of tornadoes! 5 months later our home is still being rebuilt and we have to live elsewhere, but we have realized many unexpected blessings along the way. Best wishes to you and your family ❤

[@Michelle-tk9jq]

What an amazing child. Wishing him the best ❤

[@cindygibbs1964]

What a precious...kind hearted child! Bless him!!

[@peppers8489]

River, I am very happy that you and your family are safe and okay. Telling your story is a very important thing. It allows us to see the impact of the storm on people and not just the destruction of property. I pray that everything works out well for you and life can get back to normal soon.

[@faithlaw8516]

How intelligent River is!! God bless his family!!

[@myrootsgraspNewsoil]

What an articulate, good, courageous boy! I sure hope that community can be restored and heals from this. But-his teacher asked why his homework wasn’t done!??? I mean that’s so horrifyingly tone deaf!!!!

[@rianavermeulen8689]

My heart broke into pieces for this beautiful, beautiful boy.

[@sherrycatanese4312]

What a wonderful interview and a precious young boy. God has plans for him for sure. Thank you. His beautiful innocence is so refreshing.

[@theatreracer8591]

This young man is wise beyond his years. I can't imagine what the future holds for him!

[@NatKekuna2012]

He’s so sweet, smart little cutie. Very special.

[@jodeming5088]

What a precious, beautiful child he is. He has a big heart. May God bless and protect him always.

[@imsleepingbeauty]

What a sweet child. He must have some wonderful people raising him ❤

[@williamlegge2167]

What a precious smart little guy. Wow mom and dad have done a wonderful job. May God bless and restore all you need.

[@Deb_BG]

What a great kid! I wish you happiness River.

[@Brucev7]

Keep praying and Praising Almighty God, River, God will Provide. To His Glory, Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

[@kevincage1641]

@Brucev7 Someone was praying and praising almighty god in that area before the EF4. That is fact. almighty god didn’t spare them. They always “signify”after the fact. Why did god ignore the prayers @Brucev7?

[@nicelady51]

Very nice interview. My heart goes out to him, his family, and all affected by that disaster. ❤

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

Thank You River. I pray you and your family have a new home very soon. God Bless YOU 🙏🙏

[@gloriamadaffari5404]

What an amazing and wisdom filled young man.

[@Tilly-767]

The interviewer should not negate what the boy's mom was teaching him about , that it's not about him. That is a healthy response when things happen to us. To be thankful as River said he is that they weren't hurt. ...that's wise teaching he's getting from his mom. It's more healthy to look outside of ourselves...not denying how we feel or not putting our head in the sand and pretending bad things didn't happen ...but looking at the whole picture which it seems River is doing. God bless him and his family. I'm glad they're alright, too.

[@user-oq5nr9wi1y]

What a brave intelligent little boy with wisdom beyond his years ,I hope he gets his new home 💙

[@melaniegreen1311]

I just want to give him a hug.

[@michelepayne3546]

This was a special segment. We as parents are focused on moving on with repairing the material aspects, and normal day-to-day of our lives, and might forget to do just what that reporter did with this young man... just quietly sit and take a few minutes to talk about their feelings. I was just really drawn in by this and River's voice/story.

[@Aritul]

Adorable child. I'm glad he and his family survived.

[@victoriaholt3413]

He is so darn articulate! His family gets all props for raising him

[@gailself8619]

Excellent interview. Thank you River for sharing.

[@karensinclair4189]

What a dear little boy. Bless him.