South Prays For Rain, End To Drought

(CBS/AP)  Neighbors are turning in neighbors for violating water restrictions, farmers are jittery about crops and churchgoers are praying for rain as Georgia suffers through one of its worst droughts in decades.

Sweltering conditions are expected to intensify. State climatologist David Stooksbury this week classified 74 of the state's 159 counties as being in "extreme" drought — more than double the assessment he delivered just a few weeks ago.

And he said he's doubtful conditions will improve any time soon, with little rain in the forecast.

"The Southeast, which desperately needs some rain, will stay dry at least for the next few days, but there is hope that a soaking rain will be developing over the region by the weekend," says CBS News meteorologist George Cullen.

The situation isn't much better in the Florida Everglades, where swampland looks more like Midwestern prairie.

"That used to be marshland, wetland. But it's not wet now," said a water manager there.

Florida water managers are struggling to fill the needs of rural growers and urban sprawl, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella. Lake Okeechobee, the backup water supply for 5 million people in the southern part of the state, is shrinking a half an inch with every rainless day. The lake level is expected to hit an all-time low on Wednesday.

In Alabama many growers who switched from cotton to corn in the ethanol craze are now struggling to keep this more water-dependent crop alive.

"This is the most disastrous beginning we've had and the worst ending to a crop," a farmer told CBS News.

The land in Georgia is so dry that wildfires have been burning for more than a month, adds Cobiella. It'll be tough to find a Georgia peach this summer — some farmers already have lost 70 percent of that crop.

President Bush was going to Georgia Tuesday and was expected to be briefed on those wildfires.

The drought has forced Georgia officials to restrict when residents can water their lawns — limiting it to early mornings on alternating days. Some cities, including Atlanta, have gone a step further, ordering residents to water lawns, wash cars and restrict other outdoor use to one day a week.

In the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, police are giving residents the option to call 24 hours a day to report water-use violations.

"We are neither encouraging or not encouraging calls. It's up to them," said Julie Brechbill, a Roswell spokeswoman. "Our main concern is that our residents follow the restrictions because we're in a drought."

In Columbia County east of Augusta, officials get five to 10 calls a day from neighbors reporting neighbors for water violations. Sick of people ignoring the rules, the county is disconnecting the water for violators, with nearly 50 households disconnected in recent weeks.

"It's like any rule or law: If you don't enforce it, then no one abides by it," said Margaret Doss, the water quality manager in Columbia County, Georgia. "These are our customers and we hate to punish them. But on the other hand, the drought is significant and it has to be handled properly."

In rural areas, farmers worried about whether they should plant their crops are also facing a massive shortfall of hay, a key part of Georgia's $50 billion agriculture industry.

Bone-dry fields can't sustain enough grass to make hay. There's hardly a bale of hay to be found in Tifton and other Georgia towns.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," said Derrick Jones, a Tifton, Ga., farmer who this week could only scrape up enough bales of hay from his property to feed his 300 head of cattle for a day or two. "My only other option is to sell. That's not a good option, but it may be what we have to do."

Larry Crumley, a farmer in nearby Berrien County, is hoping to use a bin of unused rye seed to feed his 200 cattle. "It's down to that," he sighed. "We've bought all the hay we can buy, and it will last until Monday."

The lack of rain has given some residents a reason to ask for divine intervention. A group of churches in Moultrie, a south Georgia town, has started a weekly prayer service on Wednesdays to ask for rain.

"The community needed to come together and feel like you're doing something," said Rhonda Royals, a secretary who attended the first meeting Wednesday. "And the only thing you can do is pray — and pray hard."

[ecuadoriana]

Hey, His_forever!

You spout a lot of "quotes" from a book written by men (& re-translated, re-edited & re-interpreted over & over for centuries) as a way to control others & to justify certain behaviours that "god's messengers" want to engage in- but you still live like the "sinners" you wish to condemn!

You litter, pollute, eat murdered animals, abuse the earth (the one true great creation of your god) & all its inhabitants every single day. You spread hate & evil by the words that you choose. You discriminate. You engage in vain acts by believing you are superior to those you deem as unfit, unworthy & unholy. And don't lie & say you've never had impure thoughts about the neighbour's daughter (people who spout the loudest & most biblical lines are usually the biggest pervs).

How do you manage with that long, forked tongue all rolled up inside that ego-inflated, bobble-head of yours?

Try thinking for yourself the next time you're flicking your cig butt out your car window, or leaving your garbage behind at the beach, or picking over the plastic packages of murdered animals to feed your insatiable appetite for flesh. Try thinking about what you're contributing, both the good & evil, to the real church which is the earth.

[mcvet]

The POLITICAL debate rages on because the fossil-fuels industry (Exxon-Mobile) is poring millions into a disinformation campaign.




Posted by micma at 07:30 PM : May 29, 2007

You left out the Religious Reich which refuses to accept the fact that Global Warning is real.

[mcvet]

in the 30's most of north america also endured a long spell of drought, and yet the use of oil was at a small fraction of what it is now. So perhaps the current lack of rain is just a climate cycle and a lot of people are pushing the panic button. Or, maybe the cause of our many pestilances and problems are from above as punishment provisied for disobediance and immorality. The bible warned us and others of calamities that await as a result of sin.
Posted by jankebenz at 10:27 PM : May 29, 2007

The lack of rain was NOT the ONLY reason for the dust bowl Sparky. Bad Land management and bad farming practices were as much responsible for the Dust Bowl as the lack of rain. We have had periods without rain before yes but EVERY major Scientist and EVERY expert in the field tells us this is not what is going on here. But Hey you clowns will buy anything as long as your "Party" line is upheld so enjoy the heat.... from what I hear there's so much more coming for you to enjoy. LMAO Sieg Heil Y'all.

[mcvet]

He who has ear hear what Holy Spirit of Lord Jesus Messiah says to the churches. Amen
Posted by His_forever at 03:13 AM : May 30, 2007

With all the hate and vile things these people have done, I seriously doubt that any God is going to listen. They are fried folks plain and simple. Sieg Heil Y'all.

[his_forever]

Please pay attention to God's word which abides forever:

And when the heaven is shut up and there is no rain, because they have sinned against Thee;
yet if they pray before Thee in this place, and confess Thy great name and TURN FROM THEIR SINS when Thou does afflict them;
then hear Thou from heaven their prayer and forgive the sins of Thy servants and of Thy people Israel when Thou has taught them the good way in which they should walk,
and send rain of blessing upon the land which Thou has given to Thy people for an inheritance.
He who has ear hear what Holy Spirit of Lord Jesus Messiah says to the churches. Amen

[his_forever]

Read God's word:
If I shut up heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people,
if my people who are called by my name shall HUMBLE themselves and Pray and Seek my face and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. 2 Chronciles 7:13-14

[bobgee_1999]

ralan40: Stick to a subject you know something about---whatever that might be. Atheists do not believe in God, and it ends there. Any other qualities you attribute to atheists is of your own manufacture. By definition, an agnostic is someone who has no firm stance on religious belief, either for or against. As an atheist, I couldn't care less what you believe, as long as you don't try to theocratize the secular Constitution of the United States. Further, glb1969 or I, or anyone else is fully justified in mocking religion; are we obligated to respect all delusional people, or just believers in God? How about Osama bin Laden, a truly devout man? How about Fred Phelps, another deeply committed man of God? Mocking the absurd (in this case, religion) is the first step toward enlightenment.

[jankebenz]

in the 30's most of north america also endured a long spell of drought, and yet the use of oil was at a small fraction of what it is now. So perhaps the current lack of rain is just a climate cycle and a lot of people are pushing the panic button. Or, maybe the cause of our many pestilances and problems are from above as punishment provisied for disobediance and immorality. The bible warned us and others of calamities that await as a result of sin.

[micma-2009]

The National Academy of Scientists surveyed every Scientific, Peer-Reviewed, Global Warming Study done in the last ten years.


Every one of these studies agreed on three fundamental facts:


1) GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL

2) GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSED BY MAN

3) GLOBAL WARMING WILL BE DEVISTATING TO ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET


The SCIENTIFIC debate ended long ago.


The POLITICAL debate rages on because the fossil-fuels industry (Exxon-Mobile) is poring millions into a disinformation campaign.

[ralan40]

glb1969, Agnostics don't believe in God, Athiests don't want ANYONE ELSE to believe in God. There comes a point where something can't be proven or disproven. Go ahead and state your beliefs but don't bring science in as an excuse for not having faith in the unknown. God isn't the source of the problem, it is how people perceive God and behave. So what is it? Does God exist and is causing the problems you allege or does God NOT exist and it is people who are the problem??