Mass prayer for rain planned in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – It hasn’t rained in weeks across much of Alabama, and some people say it’s time to get God involved.

Activists are planning a mass prayer for rain in drought-plagued Alabama on Sunday afternoon. The interfaith event is scheduled at a park in downtown Birmingham.

The prayer session is being promoted on Facebook as parts of the state have gone two months without rain. One of the organizers, Max Rykov, says praying for rain is part of the tradition of many religions.

Federal statistics released this week show nearly 90 percent of the state is now in a severe drought, and 65 percent of the state is in an extreme or exceptional drought.

Conditions are worst in north Alabama and no rain drought-busting storm systems are in the forecast.

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