Whether Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring or six more weeks of winter, it is important to be prepared for the weather.

Learn how to stay safe in severe winter weather with these tips from Ready.gov :

• Stay indoors during the storm.
• If you have to go outside, walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways.
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. Use caution, take breaks, push the snow instead of lifting it when possible, and lift lighter loads.
• Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
• Drive only if it is necessary. If you must drive, travel during the day. Do not travel alone. Keep others informed of your schedule. Stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts.
• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal¬burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, or any partially enclosed area. Locate the unit away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. Keep these devices at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents.

Find more winter safety information in the How to Prepare for a Winter Storm guide. The Winter Weather Preparedness Social Media toolkit also contains winter weather safety and preparedness messages you can share on your social media channels. You can either copy these messages directly or customize them to reach your audience.

Keep your super feast for the Super Bowl safe.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest day for food consumption in the U.S. after Thanksgiving. Enjoy the big game and stay fire safe with these cooking safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA):

• Keep an eye on what you fry.
• Stand by your pan.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Wear short sleeves or rolled up sleeves.
• Keep a pan lid or cookie sheet nearby to cover the pan if it catches fire.

The USFA says cooking is the main cause of home fires and fire injuries. Find more tips to stay safe on the USFA's Cooking Safety page.

Keep your pets safe and warm throughout the winter.  

Never leave your animals outside. If it's too cold for you, it is probably too cold for your pet.

Protect your pet with these seven guidelines from The Humane Society:

1. Keep your pets inside with you and your family. Under no circumstances should you leave pets outdoors, even if they roam outside during other seasons.
   
2. Put a sweater on your pet during extreme cold, even for short walks. Pets are also at risk for frostbite and hypothermia.
   
3. Rock salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth.
   
4. If there are outdoor cats in your area, remember that they need protection from the elements as well as food and water. Learn how to  give them a hand .
   
5. Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car's hood to scare them away before starting your engine.
   
6. Be sure your horses have access to a barn or a three-sided run-in so they can escape the wind and cold. While not all horses will need to be blanketed, blankets will help horses keep warm and dry, especially if there is any rain or snow. If you have body-clipped your horses, keep them blanketed throughout the winter.
   
7. If you encounter a pet left in the cold, politely let the owner know you are concerned. Some people genuinely do not know the risk that cold weather poses to their pets or livestock. If the owner raises concerns,responds poorly, or continues to neglect their pet,  follow our steps on reporting wintertime neglect.

For more information, visit the Humane Society or the Pets and Animals page on www.ready.gov .