If you use a car to get around and live in an area that experiences winter weather, it's important to prepare your car for winter. Here's what you should know if you drive during winter weather:

• Stay off the road during and after a winter storm.
• Install good winter tires. Make sure each tire has enough tread.
• Keep your gas tank full. A full tank keeps the fuel line from freezing, and it's also a good idea in case you lose power.
• Build an emergency kit with winter essentials. Include weather clothes, a blanket, and an ice scraper.

For the full list of items to keep in your car emergency kit, visit: https://www.ready.gov/car.

You could lose power for a few days after a disaster or severe winter weather. If the power goes out, it is important to know what to do with your refrigerated food.

If you lose power, keep your refrigerator and freezer door closed as much as possible to keep the inside cold. Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if needed, and monitor your fridge and freezer temperatures with a thermometer. When in doubt—throw it out! Throw away any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

Don't forget about refrigerated medicine. If you lose power for more than a day, you should throw away any medication that should be refrigerated unless the label says otherwise. Make sure to check with your doctor to find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures before a disaster.

For more tips to keep food safe and survive after a power outage, visit: https://www.ready.gov/power-outages.

Are you done with holiday shopping? If you're getting gifts online, it's important to be safe. Use these cyber tips when making online purchases:

• Shop from trustworthy and established websites.
• Do your online shopping at home and make sure your home wireless network is protected.
• Don't click on links in unfamiliar emails. During the holidays, scammers may send fake emails that are too good to be true.
• Use a credit card when you shop online. Some laws protect you if you find fraudulent credit card charges.
• Compare your bank statements to your own purchase records.

For more tips on staying safe when you shop online, visit:  https://ww.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST07-001.