Georgia leaders to 'pray for rain' as drought grips state

Georgia’s leaders have a long history of asking for divine help to break droughts.

Gov. Joe Frank Harris did it in 1986. Gov. Sonny Perdue did, too, in 2007.

Now, U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black want God’s help to end the latest drought to parch Georgia’s fields and streams.

Collins and Black will travel to Lavonia, in northeast Georgia, on Monday to pray for rain. The event begins at 9 a.m. at 1269 East Main St.

ExploreThe state can use all the help it can get.

Fifty counties across North Georgia are in at least an "extreme" drought. Some in northwest Georgia are in "exceptional" drought, the worst kind, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. More than 7.9 million Georgians live in drought-affected areas.

More coverage:

ExploreMost severe drought restrictions imposed in this Georgia county

ExploreMore Georgia areas now in most severe drought category

ExploreGeorgia ratchets up drought alert

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Aaron Gould Sheinin

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