Rain falls in Georgia after governor prays for it

A storm in the Southeast brought rains to the parts of drought-stricken Georgia after the governor openly led a prayer service for rain.

Photo: Rain falls in Georgia after governor prays for it

However, forecasters said the storm likely did little to ease Georgia's historic drought.

"The ground probably sucked it all up," said Vaughn Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City. "The ground is so dry, I seriously doubt if any of the lakes rose any."

The Wednesday storm packed lashing rain and powerful gusts, damaging buildings and injuring at least nine in Tennessee.

More than a quarter of the Southeast is covered by an "exceptional" drought the National Weather Service's worst drought category. With water levels low, many Georgia residents are under conservation orders such as a ban on watering lawns.

On Tuesday, Gov. Sonny Perdue led a prayer service on the steps of the state Capitol to beg the heavens for an end to the drought.