KINGSTON, Idaho — Historic flooding across parts of North Idaho and the west side has prompted dramatic rescue efforts, including King County crews using a drone to deliver a life jacket to a man stuck on top of his car before he was airlifted to safety.
The rural Kingston community came together to protect each other as a state of emergency continues due to flooding along the Coeur d’Alene and Saint Joe rivers.
Hooks Landing was one of several buildings the flood almost washed away. “We could see it coming over the river, and then it moved to an area up the road. We panicked, we knew we were in trouble,” said co-owner Merle Jones.
The Kingston community responded by putting their lives on the line to protect neighbors and keep businesses like Jones’ standing.
“I don’t think reality has set in yet because everybody has been up all night long,” said Scott Cannon, a Kingston resident who was part of the rescue effort.
Cannon worked with a team made up of the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, first responders and a local towing company. They spent hours checking on residents and filling sandbags that ultimately saved Hooks Landing.
“By the time we quit last night, it was probably a waist deep,” Cannon said.
Nickerson Towing pulled motor homes and snowmobiles to safety, driving through raging floodwaters to deliver critical sandbags.
“The water was moving so rapidly that I could tell after several rounds of putting bags on the road that that was the difference between us having a business this morning and not having a business this morning,” Jones said. “In the community itself, we had so many folks, even the folks that stayed with us, they jumped in and they helped us fight the fight, and we were successful on this one.”
Though water levels are beginning to recede, the aftermath of the flood is still seen throughout Shoshone County as campgrounds remain submerged under water.
“This is no good to nobody, but it is just the reality of what mother nature can do,” Cannon said.
Outside Hooks Landing, a solid wall of sandbags stands tall as a reflection of the community’s resilience.
Officials say the state of emergency and flood warnings will remain in place until tomorrow.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
