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More than 100 people walked the streets of Birmingham’s storm-ravaged Pratt City community this morning, praying that those who lost so much will find hope and help as the recovery efforts continue. Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper joined community leaders and area churches for today’s Prayer Force United Prayer Walk. For the past two years, the group has carried out similar walks each month in Birmingham neighborhoods hardest hit by crime, praying for a stop to violence. Today, they redirected their mission to the tornado victims,  praying for those who died and survived the April 27 tornado as they wound their way through Pratt City, singing, shouting praise and sometimes stopping to share Scripture with victims. “We felt that at this time, it was important for the faith community to rise up and really make a difference in the lives of these storm survivors,” Roper said. “I was here right after the tornado hit and there was such a sense of panic that later evolved into despair and hopelessness as people came to grips with the sheer magnitude of the situation. Now I have seen a transition into a resolve where people are really focused on the future, and where they go from here. “We were really blessed from the standpoint that we only experience two deaths in the City of Birmingham attributed to this storm,” Roper said. “When you see the destruction and entire neighborhoods that are gone, we really should have experienced a higher volume of deaths, but there’s no doubt in my mind, and most survivors would say, that God kept us.” Pratt City residents were thankful for the prayer intercession. Those who didn’t lose their homes came out onto their porches and into their yards to watch and wave as the group passed by. Some cried; most smiled. Savannah Dimbo, 81, was one of the fortunate who had little damage at her home. Still, the life-long Pratt City resident said her heart hurts just the same. “Prayer is exactly what we need. I appreciate this. I love this,” she said. “Pratt City was good before, but I hope it gets even better now. Sometimes things happen for a reason.”

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