Riley hopes prayer will end drought

Gov. Bob Riley has proclaimed June 30 to July 7 as "Days of Prayer for Rain" as Alabama continues to suffer record droughts.

"I encourage all Alabamians to pray individually and within their houses of worship for sufficient rain," Riley stated in a press release.

The rain is definitely needed. The Shoals received just shy of 12 inches of rainfall this year to date, a deficiency of nearly 18 inches.

According to the National Weather Service, nearly all of northern Alabama remains in the "exceptional" category and indicates a once-in-50-year drought.

"Throughout our history, Alabamians have turned in prayer to God to humbly ask for his blessings and to hold us steady during times of difficulty," Riley said. "This drought is without question a time of great difficulty for our farmers and for communities across the state."

Earlier in June, a group of about 40 farmers, clergy and residents joined the Rev. Billy Turner at Courtland Presbyterian Church and prayed for rain.

Retired farmer Hood Harris Jr., of Courtland, who organized the prayer session said, "I do wonder what would have happened had there been more response to the prayer vigil we had.

"At least several hundred people had to know about it."

But Alabamians aren't the only ones praying for rain.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue addressed his state's drought at an early June press conference and said, "Rain is the only cure. I believe in the God that can make it rain, and we need to pray for rain," as reported in The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Several support Riley in his divine bid for rain.

"The farmers have been praying for rain for weeks and they covet the prayers of their fellow Alabamaians," said Jerry Newby, president and CEO of the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Thirty percent of Americans pray daily, according to The Association of Religion Data Archives, and just 10 percent don't pray.

But some responses to the drought are more down to Earth.

"We need disaster relief programs for the drought in Alabama," said Ron Sparks, state agriculture commissioner.

Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.