Alabama is in the midst of an awful drought, so Gov. Bob Riley (R) has decided to, well, just take a look.

With the state’s weather forecasters not delivering much-needed rain, Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday turned to a higher power. The governor issued a proclamation calling for a week of prayer for rain, beginning Saturday.

Riley encouraged Alabamians to pray “individually and in their houses of worship.”

“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.”

Roger McNeil, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham, was asked if he believes prayer can make it rain. McNeil declined to say.

Given Alabama’s general approach to such matters, that was probably a good idea.