Joined by state legislators, school administrators, law enforcement officials and members of the mental health professionals, State Superintendent Mark Johnson proclaimed September as School Safety Month in North Carolina, pointing to the importance of school safety and highlighting efforts to ensure all North Carolina students have a safe and productive school year.

Superintendent Johnson told the room of safety and mental health professionals assembled at Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison’s headquarters that school safety is personal for him this school year.

“I have been a student, a teacher, a local school board member and now I have the honor and privilege of serving as State Superintendent of North Carolina’s public schools,” Johnson said. “But everything becomes different for me this school year. This year, I became the parent of a child in our public schools when I dropped my daughter off to start kindergarten. As with every parent in the state, I want to know that she, her friends, and the teachers and staff will be safe, every single day.”

Harrison spoke about stiffer penalties now in statute for hoax threats made to schools, noting the increase in this type of crime.

“Hoax threats are a serious matter,” Harrison said. “Schools are our priority, so we expend a tremendous amount of resources to deal with threat tips. Teachers should be able to teach and not worry about anything else.”

Harrison joins Johnson and other school leaders in urging parents to talk to their children about school safety in general and hoax threats — especially on social media.

“We don’t want students to make hoax threats,” Harrison said. “But we do want them to report any threats they do hear about, so we can investigate.”

Johnson and the staff of the N.C. Center for Safer Schools, a part of the Department of Public Instruction, worked with the General Assembly, the N.C. Sheriffs Association, the Department of Public Safety and other groups through the spring and summer to study the most effective ways to increase school safety. Through many hours of staff work and the meetings of the House Select Committee on School Safety, the plan passed by the legislature with Johnson’s support included improvements in two main areas: school security and mental-health support.

The most immediate outcome of the changes in law is $35 million in funding for various school safety-related programs, outlined below. The $35 million includes $30 million in grants, of which $22 million has been awarded. The remainder of the grant awards will be announced soon.

Anonymous Tip Line and App

The General Assembly included $5 million for this fiscal year to develop an anonymous tip line and mobile application following a successful pilot program in five counties. This app will allow students, parents, educators and community members to report tips to school administrators and – where appropriate – law enforcement, all without embarrassment or fear of reprisal. During the pilot, types of incidents reported included bullying (39 percent), danger (25 percent), drugs (24 percent), fighting (5 percent), weapons (5 percent), and underage drinking (2 percent).

The pilot tip-line program led to several arrests and was viewed as an important tool by school administrators and local law enforcement. Citing experience gained from the pilot, Johnson asked for and received funding to develop a statewide app and to staff a 24/7 command center to support tips reported. The statewide app will be available by the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. School districts and charter schools may use the app or make available a substantially similar one.

School Safety Grants

School Resource Officers

The General Assembly appropriated $12 million for grants to districts and schools to fund School Resource Officers for elementary and middle schools (almost all high schools already have an SRO). SROs serve as law enforcement officers, law-related counselors, and law-related education instructors in schools. Students gain trust in law enforcement by interacting positively with their school’s SRO, and SROs provide both a deterrent to violence and a first response to events if they should occur.

Community Partners – Students in Crisis and Training to Increase School Safety

The purpose of the Community Partners Grant Program is to increase school safety by providing evidence-based and evidence-informed crisis services and training to help students develop healthy responses to trauma and stress. This year, $2 million will be dispersed for the Students in Crisis Grant Program, and $3 million in funding is available for Training to Increase School Safety grants.

School Safety Equipment 

The School Safety Equipment Grant Program includes up to $3 million to schools for school safety equipment. This competitive grant program will inform state policymakers and lawmakers on specific needs for school safety equipment across the state.

School Mental Health Support Personnel

The new $10 million School Mental Health Support Personnel Grant Program provides all or a portion of the salary and benefits needed to employ additional school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists and school social workers.

Since the July 1 start of the state’s fiscal year, Johnson has awarded $22 million to enhance school safety and student mental health. In reviewing the grant applications, the department placed a priority on innovative approaches to improving students’ mental health and involving community organizations to better maximize schools’ own resources.

“Schools alone cannot ensure students’ safety,” Johnson said. “Teachers and other school staff members work hard to ensure safe environments, but they need our help. Students, parents, caregivers, and community and faith organizations all have a role to play.”

Johnson said he is distributing school safety tips to middle and high school students throughout the state this school year.

North Carolina’s 2018 fall colors are expected to be some of the brightest and most beautiful in years.

The average temperature this year is 53.14° degrees – 1.88 degrees above average, according to NOAA. The summer has also been fairly dry this year, and drier soils typically produce brighter fall colors in the mountains.

North Carolina’s peak season will start toward the beginning of October in the higher elevations and run until the end of October in the Piedmont.

According to SmokyMountains.com, colors should be at their peak around October 29th in the mountains and Nov. 5th in Charlotte;

To see the best views in our state, you can browse our list of the ‘Top 10 Best Places To See Fall Colors Around North Carolina‘, or check out The Comprehensive Guide To The Blueridge Parkway Vistas.

UPDATE 9/13/2018 8:00am:

Hurricane Florence has just been downgraded to a Category 2 storm, but has also grown in overall size, increasing the reach of its damaging winds. It could still marginally strengthen before making landfall, but it will likely remain a Category 2 or weak Category 3.

UPDATE 9/11/2018 9:00am:

Hurricane Florence is continuing to move closer to the eastern seaboard on a relatively straight path as a powerful category 4 storm.

The storm will significantly slow down after hitting land. It’s anticipated to take over 48 hours to travel from the North Carolina coast to the Raleigh area.

It will likely decrease from a Category 4 storm over water on Friday to a Tropical Storm before reaching the middle of North Carolina or bottom of Virginia by Sunday.

Charlotte could see wind speeds between 40-60mph between Friday morning and Sunday night;

and up to 2 inches of rain (which will likely cause significant flash flooding around our region);

There could be a significantly greater threat to the Charlotte region if Hurricane Florence intensifies to a Category 5 storm, although the chances of that happening are fairly slim based on the current intensity forecasts; 

50 MPH winds and flash flooding around Charlotte will likely knock down trees, cause pockets of power outages, and make some roads impassable.

In case of a power outage, make sure to have the following emergency items stocked in your home;

• Car charger for cell phones and other devices
• Clean drinking water (recommended 1 gallon per person per day, minimum three days)
• Flashlights 
• Batteries: Extra batteries for all of your devices
• Weather radio/clock
• Non-perishable food
• First aid kit

All the above items are available via 2-day shipping on Amazon if your local store has already been cleaned out.

The City of Charlotte sent us a press release last night about Hurricane Florence with the following information for local residents;

• Now is the time before the storm to clear nearby storm drains and small creeks.
• Keep curb and gutters free of leaves, litter and branches
• Please call 911 for true emergencies. Use 311 to request non-emergency services.
• Review your family preparedness plan. Don’t forget to include your pets in your planning.
• Take inventory of your emergency kit and restock on essentials. 

The city also wants to remind residents that “September is National Preparedness Month, so now is a great time to think about preparedness and safety for all emergency situations.”

UPDATE 9/10/2018 9:00am:

As Hurricane Florence continues to move closer to the Carolina coast, officials are now warning residents to prepare for the worst.

NC Governor Roy Cooper first issued a State of Emergency this past Friday, and again echoed his call for residents to prepare in yesterday’s NCDOT press release.

“Everyone in North Carolina needs to keep a close eye on Florence and take steps now to get ready for impacts later this week,” Gov. Cooper said. “State emergency management, transportation, health experts and others are making sure North Carolina is prepared for the storm, and I urge the public to review your emergency plans and gather your supplies now.”

The National Hurricane Center sent out the following alert this morning;

1. There is an increasing risk of life-threatening impacts from Florence: storm surge at the coast, freshwater flooding from a prolonged and exceptionally heavy rainfall event inland, and damaging hurricane-force winds. While it is too soon to determine the exact timing, location, and magnitude of these impacts, interests at the coast and inland from South Carolina into the mid-Atlantic region should closely monitor the progress of Florence, ensure they have their hurricane plan in place, and follow any advice given by local officials.
2. Large swells affecting Bermuda and portions of the U.S. East Coast will continue this week. These swells will result in life-threatening surf and rip currents.

Charlotte’s meteorologist Tara Lane noted that the storm could approach the North Carolina coast as a Cat 4 storm Wednesday night into Thursday morning;

According to the National Hurricane Center, storm-force winds from Hurricane Florence could hit Charlotte as soon as early Thursday morning;

There still is a chance that the storm will swing to the north and avoid direct contact with North Carolina, or even possibly swing back out to sea, according to the latest GFS Ensemble Tracks;

Please take some time to review your safety plans, become familiar with local evacuation routes, and continue to monitor Hurrican Florence’s path on NHC.NOAA.Gov

UPDATE 9/7/2018 9:00pm: 

Today Hurricane Florence took a turn toward the south and is now on a direct path toward the Carolina coastline.

About an hour ago, Governor Roy Cooper issued a State of Emergency for North Carolina in anticipation of the storm.

“We are entering the peak of hurricane season and we know well the unpredictability and power of these storms,” said Cooper. “It’s too early to tell what impacts Florence may have on North Carolina, but it’s not too early to prepare for this storm. North Carolina is getting ready, and I urge families and businesses to do the same.”

The updated GFS Ensemble Tracks are now showing over half the tracks directly hitting either North or South Carolina;

The National Hurricane center’s prediction cone does not yet include impact with the coast, but it does now show a straight path toward the Carolinas;

Ventusky is now predicting that Hurricane Florance will directly hit the coast of North Carolina at around 8am next Thursday morning;

UPDATE 9/5/2018 12:30am: 

Hurricane Florence is continuing on a relatively straight course toward the East Coast.

The updated GFS Ensemble Tracks have changed the direction of AP04 and AP14, but 2 other tracks are now showing the possibility of Florence hitting the Carolinas, AP16 and AP02;

Ventusky is now showing the storm coming in contact with the cost of North Carolina next Wednesday the 12th at about 5pm in the evening;

Original article written Sept. 4th at 11:00 am: 

As the Gulf Coast states prepare for Tropical Storm Gordon, an even bigger storm is gaining strength and heading straight toward the eastern seaboard.

The National Hurricane Center just upgraded Florence from a Tropical Storm to a Hurricane about an hour ago;

Ventusky shows winds from Hurrican Florence starting to affect the East Coast beginning Tuesday, September 11th;

According to the University of Wisconsin’s Hurricane Model Center, the majority of predicted paths take the hurricane back out to sea, however, there are two spaghetti line predictions which would result in a devastating direct hit with the Carolinas, one in South Carolina and one in North Carolina.

Either of the 2 scenarios would likely result in Charlotte experiencing hurricane-force winds by the end of next week;

If Hurricane Florence makes landfall as a Cat 3-5, prediction path AP04 could result in Charlotte experiencing a direct hit by a hurricane – something we haven’t experienced since Hurricane Hugo devastated our city back in 1989.

We will continue to update this article as Hurricane Florence progresses.

North Carolina was recently ranked as one of the least renter-friendly state in America by the apartment search website RentCafe.com.

According to the report, they “compared and contrasted landlord-tenant laws in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. We focused on 10 common aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship, which include security deposits, rent increases, the warranty of habitability and eviction notices. We then created a ranking system based on the best and worst scenarios for renters and landlords (more on how we ranked the states in the Methodology section).”

• As one of the least renter-friendly states in the U.S., a renter in North Carolina could receive a 10-day termination notice for not paying the rent and an immediate termination notice for lease violation.

• Renters in North Carolina are not very lucky when it comes to getting their security deposit back either. The landlord has up to 30 days to return the money, while states like Vermont and Arizona, have a 14-day deadline.

Check the entire study and laws for all 50 states here.