Who can you count on in an emergency? And who’s counting on you? Now there are two new, free, personal preparedness applications on Facebook to help you, your community and your friends support each other during an emergency and become better prepared by identifying lifelines.

Lifelines are Facebook friends a user can count on and who agree to check on them in an emergency, supply them with shelter, food, or other necessities, or provide the user’s social network with an update about their wellbeing.

Last hurricane season the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the ASPR Lifeline Facebook Challenge, which called on software application developers and the public health and emergency management communities to design new Facebook applications that could enhance individual and community resilience by establishing social connections in advance of an emergency.

In February, we announced the winners of the challenge, and I am excited to that after undergoing some fine-tuning during the past three months, the apps are live on Facebook!

The new apps are called bReddi and Project: Lifeline, and while both apps accomplish the same goals, they have different user interfaces and appeal to different audiences. You are bound to like one of them if not both. You can find the apps at www.phe.gov/lifeline or directly through Facebook.

Set an example for others: use the apps to establish your lifelines and encourage your family and friends to get lifelines, too!