Drying out

Two days of rain from Tropical Storm Fay and a lot of people are dealing with flood damage or wet homes from roof leaks.

Susan's got the mold issue covered on her blog - but how do you get everything dry? Different items need different care. Some tips from the Miami Herald:

Major flooding requires major help - for this you want to call a water damage restoration company ... and your insurance agent to find out what's covered.

Furniture: If furniture is in a carpeted area, either elevate the furniture off the carpet, or take it outside to dry in indirect sunlight.

Area rugs: These can also be taken outside to dry in indirect sunlight. If the rug is water-stained, take it to a dry cleaner as soon as possible. Unless it's a cheap throw rug you got at a discount store - dump it and get a new one.

Books & papers: Usually these need to be thrown away to avoid mold, running ink and rippled pages. However if papers are very important, freezing them will stop the ink running and prevent mold growth until you can get the papers to a professional.