If you lose power in your home, your cordless phones will not work. Be sure to keep at least one corded phone in your home for emergencies.

Is your car winterized? Tires? Wipers? Radiator? Defroster? Battery? Do you have a windshield scraper and a broom in your car? Keep your gas tank nearly full in the winter. Carry a blanket, hat, gloves, and a pair of boots in your car. Consider the need for extra weight in the back of your vehicle to enhance traction on slick surfaces.

Be careful filling your gas tank in the winter. Cold weather causes dry conditions that create static electricity. Re-entering your car while your car is fueling could cause static electricity to build up; then, when you exit your car to finish fueling, the static electricity could spark and ignite the gas fumes. Stay outside your car until you have completed fueling. You may get cold, but you'll be safer!

Alter your driving to accommodate adverse conditions. This may save you from a car accident or getting stuck. Some suggestions:

• Allow extra travel time.
• Use a driving speed that's appropriate for the driving conditions.
• Maintain more than the usual distance between your car and the car ahead of you.
• Accelerate more slowly and slow down sooner.
• Downshift if necessary to assist in slowing your vehicle.
• Be aware that bridges and overpasses often are slippery when main road surfaces are not.
• After a period of dry weather, wet roads can be as slippery as icy roads.