NSF Grant to Examine Social Media Help Calls During Harvey

A Texas National Guardsman carries a resident from her flooded home following Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Aug. Photo by Lt. Zachary West/Army National Guard. As Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast and inundated the Houston area with rain, residents of La Vita Bella assisted living facility in Dickinson, Texas, had nowhere to turn as floodwaters began seeping into their facility. As waters rose, residents and staff were instructed by overwhelmed emergency dispatchers to remain in the facility until help could arrive. Then, a family member of the facility's owner posted a photo to Twitter of residents shown waist-high in murky water, waiting to be rescued. Soon after, the post went viral, with many seeking help from emergency responders and news outlets.