Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue to replace PulsePoint with department app; PulsePoint service ends May 13

Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue announced it is replacing its use of PulsePoint with a department-created mobile app and urged residents to download the app because PulsePoint notifications will stop on May 13. Deputy Chief of Administration Joheida Fister and Marketing and Communications Specialist Kenzie Robard said the change will let the department provide more tailored alerts and additional information to the public.

Fister said the department has used PulsePoint for several years but found the service “has its limitations,” and that led to the decision to create an app the department can control. “With this app, you'll still receive important information and alerts just through a platform that allows us to serve you even better,” Fister said.

The department said the new app will continue to send active call notifications for specific call types and weather alerts, and will add notifications about department-hosted events, department news and other community information it decides to share. Robard said a follow-up video will show residents exactly how to turn notifications on and manage preferences.

The department announced a firm transition date: “PulsePoint will go away. Our time with them will end on May 13th and at that point in time, there will not be notifications coming through PulsePoint anymore and you will have to transition solely to the Fire Rescue app,” Fister said. Fire Rescue staff said they will assist residents who need help moving to the new app.

Fister credited Southern Software, which administers the department's computer-aided dispatch system, for working with Fire Rescue to develop the app on a fast timeline. “Their team's dedication, their responsiveness, and their commitment to getting it right for our community really made a big difference and we're very grateful for their partnership,” she said.

The Fire Rescue app is available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store; the department advised users to search “Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue,” where the app should appear as the first icon. Officials encouraged residents to download the app and said more guidance will be provided in a forthcoming instructional video.

The announcement is a departmental service change and does not represent a formal legislative or regulatory action; officials framed it as an operational decision to improve local emergency and community communications. The department asked residents to reach out if they need help transitioning to the new app.