As the country knows, the Atlanta area, home to AchooAllergy.com's headquarters and storefront, recently experienced major flooding that touched the lives of almost everyone living in the region.

Sadly, flash floods claimed the lives of several individuals. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. Others experienced severe damage to their homes due to flooding. Many, many others sustained more minor damage to their basements as water that had nowhere to go seeped into their homes.

Cleanup attempts began even as the rain continued to pour down, but the repercussions of water damage are long-lasting. And it's crucial that water-logged floors and walls are dealt with properly and quickly in order to avoid more long-term problems.

Here is a checklist of items that can help in the aftermath of flood damage:

• An air dryer like the Dri-Eaz Ace TurboDryer helps dry out water-damaged areas by directing targeted air movement into problem areas.
• Dehumidifiers are also imperative, whether your situation requires an industrial strength unit like the Ebac CD35P Dehumidifier or a more traditional unit, such as these Danby dehumidifiers.
• Lastly, it's very important to stay on top of mold problems that could develop. Use M-1 House Wash or Vital Oxide Mold Remover and Disinfectant to clean soiled surfaces. Then, prevent mold from forming by sealing these areas with products like M-1 Sure Cote Mold and Mildew Resistant Sealant or Allersearch AllerMold.

What have you learned from your personal experience cleaning up after a flood?