A photo posted to Twitter Sunday of several elderly patients at La Vita Bella assisted-living facility in Dickinson, Texas trapped in waist deep water from flooding due to Hurricane Harvey went viral, prompting an effort that rescued fifteen residents within hours of the photo being posted.
The photo was posted to Twitter by Timothy McIntosh. McIntosh’s wife Kimberly told the Daily News of Galveston County the assisted-living facility is owned by her mother who sent the picture to them “at 9 a.m. this morning.”
McIntosh, who stated on Twitter he is Florida, posted the photo several times with messages including, “La vita Bella nursing home in Dickinson Texas is almost underwater with nursing home patients” and “Need help asap emergency services please RETWEET”. The photo was first posted at 9:57 a.m. EDT. The seniors were rescued in three hours after that with McIntosh announcing the rescue at 1:11 p.m. EDT.
https://twitter.com/DividendsMGR/status/901805509950541825
Excerpt of the Daily News report:
Fifteen senior citizens were evacuated from the La Vita Bella nursing home in Dickinson, David Popoff, the city’s emergency management coordinator confirmed on Sunday afternoon.
A picture of the residents sitting in waist-deep water went viral on Twitter on Sunday.
Poppoff said the residents were rescued by helicopter.
“We were air-lifting grandmothers and grandfathers,” Popoff said.”
McIntosh posted updates on Sunday tracking the rescue effort.
https://twitter.com/DividendsMGR/status/901842175264161792
https://twitter.com/DividendsMGR/status/901845124795289600
https://twitter.com/DividendsMGR/status/901847227378917377
https://twitter.com/DividendsMGR/status/901854734109331456
Dickinson is located midway between Houston and Galveston on I-45 in Galveston County.
The condition of the patients who were rescued after spending hours in flood waters has not readily available.
You've likely seen and shared this #HurricaneHarvey flooded nursing home picture. Now hear the story behind it. #Houston #HoustonFlood pic.twitter.com/G4swwZ3bVh
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) August 27, 2017
UPDATE with audio interview of the daughter of the owner of La Vida Bella.