A viral photo from hurricane-ravaged Texas was so horrifying that some claimed it was photoshopped, but it has now reportedly been authenticated, according to KTRK-TV.
The picture featured a group of elderly individuals apparently sitting inside of a nursing home in Dickinson, Texas, with water up to their waists.
Despite the staggering amount of water in the room, the photo appears to show the residents carrying on as though nothing startling is unfolding around them.
That seemingly unbelievable scene led some to doubt the photo’s authenticity. But KTRK has more:
The photo of residents of La Vita Bella seemingly calmly sitting in wheelchairs and on sofas in water greater than waist-deep was widely circulated as viewers tried to determine its authenticity.
Ken Clark with the Galveston Office of Emergency Services confirms that photo was indeed real, and says that 20 – 25 residents have been evacuated to safety.
BuzzFeed also reported that Brittany Viegas, chief communication officer with Galveston County Office of Emergency Management, confirmed that a large rescue operation had unfolded and that “first responders have evacuated and are in the process of transporting them to a medical facility.”
The outlet, though, noted that it hadn’t confirmed if the photo was indeed taken inside La Vita Bella.
La vita Bella nursing home in Dickinson Texas is almost underwater with nursing home patients pic.twitter.com/oCNkrgoRZY
— Timothy J. McIntosh (@DividendsMGR) August 27, 2017
It was the viral photo, according to WFAA-TV, that led to the emergency rescue of those inside the home.
The hoopla reportedly started with a tweet from author Timothy McIntosh, who shared the image and wrote, “La vita Bella nursing home in Dickinson Texas is almost underwater with nursing home patients.”
RESCUED!! Thank you to the National Guard & the Galveston City Emergency crew for our rescue; @GalvestonOEM #houstonflood @NationalGuard
— Timothy J. McIntosh (@DividendsMGR) August 27, 2017
McIntosh, whose mother-in-law reportedly owns the nursing home, later updated his followers with the news that the nursing home residents had been rescued.
The elderly individuals were purportedly airlifted from the scene.