More rescue operations got underway on Monday, February 2nd. The first villages at the edges of the disaster area were evacuated. On the islands, the only rescuers were still individuals with boats. Fishermen, especially, managed to free many people from their perilous positions. Still, that Monday evening, the many people marooned in isolated houses, churches and farms on Schouwen-Duiveland and Goeree-Overflakkee, faced the third night and the fifth flood .
It was not until the afternoon that the first reconnaissance plane flew over Schouwen-Duiveland . Sommelsdijk (on Goeree-Overflakkee) was where the first relief packages could be dropped. Tuesday, February 3rd, was the turning-point. Only then did the rescue get well underway. Victims were evacuated from the disaster area.
Hundreds of ships brought aid workers to the disaster area.
The military took over the coordination of the rescue in some places. Food was dropped and helicopters were put into action. By Tuesday evening the disaster had practically ended. Though some people were still isolated there were no more victims.