Residents of a flood-hit care home in
Texas have been evacuated after an image of them sitting in waist-deep water
was widely shared on social media.
Kim and Timothy McIntosh, daughter and son-in-law
of the care home owner, posted the photograph on Twitter.
Fifteen elderly residents were moved from the La
Vita Bella care home to a new nursing home in Alvin, Texas.
Once dry, residents posed for another photo showing
them to be safe.
The original image showing elderly residents, and
their cat, stuck in rapidly rising floodwater was widely shared on social media
in an attempt to bring the situation to the attention of the emergency
services.
Speaking to the BBC, Kim McIntosh said they tweeted
the photograph in a bid to "get as much attention as possible to get them
help."
Twitter-users were quick to respond, spreading the
message online, and within a few hours the residents were rescued.
David Popoff, Galveston County Emergency Management
Co-ordinator, confirmed the rescue operation to the Galverston
County Daily News.
Timothy McIntosh thanked Twitter users for sharing
the photograph, and the emergency services for rescuing the residents.
The new care home, some 15 miles (24km) from their
previous residence, told CBS News
that everyone was in good spirits.
However, social media users displayed concern for
one resident from the original image who was missing from the second - the La
Vita Bella cat.
In another happy ending for the residents of La
Vita Bella, Bozo the cat is also safe and well.
SOURCE: BBC News, Trudy Lampson
The power of communication wins the day.
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