Hurricane Harvey: Senior citizens airlifted from flooded nursing home after picture goes viral

‘What we need is help not doubters,’ Timothy J Mcintosh posted to social media after doubts circulated over his appeal for help

Residents at La Vita Bella nursing home in Dickinson, Texas were ‘almost underwater’ (Timothy J McIntosh‏/ Twitter)

Senior citizens at a flooded nursing home in Texas were airlifted to safety after their plea for rescue in the wake of Hurricane Harvey went viral on social media.

A photo showing residents of the La Vita Bella nursing home in Dickinson, a city around 33 miles southeast of Houston, trapped waist-deep in water was posted to Twitter with a plea for emergency assistance.

“La Vita Bella nursing home in Dickinson Texas is almost underwater with nursing home patients,” Timothy J Mcintosh posted on Sunday morning, alongside the shocking image.

“This is a real and life-threatening situation,” Mr Mcintosh, who is reported to be the son-in-law of the owner of the nursing home, later added.

The image immediately went viral and within a matter of hours Mr McIntosh shared that the 15 residents had been airlifted to safety by Galveston County emergency services and The National Guard.

“RESCUED!!” he wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to the National Guard & the Galveston City Emergency crew for our rescue.”

“Thanks to all the true believers that re-tweeted and got the news organizations involved. It pushed La Vita Bella to #1 on the priority list,” Mr McIntosh added.

The National Guard tweeted in response to the story: “When the community we serve is in need, we are always ready to respond.”

The image of La Vita Bella nursing home residents waiting to be saved was so shocking to some social media users that many believed it was fake when it was initially posted.

“That photo had me laughing. Thought it was completely fake. Some were casually knitting,” one Twitter user wrote.

“What we need is help not doubters. This involves our own family,” Mr McIntosh had posted earlier, in response to social media backlash to his requests for help.

At least five people have died in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm, with thousands of others still waiting to be rescued.

Houston officials have warned that if water is approaching the outlets of flooding victims’ homes, they should immediately turn off the electricity from the main breaker – only if it is possible without standing in the water.

Otherwise, residents affected by widespread flooding have been advised to seek safety by climbing to their rooftops and awaiting aid.

Houston Public Information Officer Keith Smith has said rescue efforts are still underway, with emergency services now focused on rescuing those who are trapped inside a home or building.