Survival Guide

In case of emergency, call 911 (landline) or Sonoma County Sheriff at 1 (707) 565-211 (mobile/landline)

Non-emergency incidents for the following:

• Sea Ranch Fire Department: 1 (707) 785-2648

• Coast Life Support - Paramedic/EMT and ambulance: 1 (707) 884-1829

• California Highway Patrol for non-injury vehicle accidents: 1 (707) 588-1400

• Redwood Coast Medical Services: (RCMS) 1 (707) 884-4005

• Sea Ranch Security - security, vandalism, disturbance, trespassers, mountain lion sighting: 1 (707) 785-2701

• Veterinary clinic: 1 (707) 884-3313 - A 38600 S Highway 1 - Gualala, CA 95445

• Fawn rescue: 1 (707) 931-4550

If both the residential land line and the cell network are down, go directly to one of the six emergency call boxes located on Highway One (mile markers 58.30 – 56.25 – 54.41 – 53.96 – 52.29 – 50.83) where your call will be transmitted directly to an emergency operator. In the event that these call boxes are also affected by a telephone outage, Sea Ranch amateur radio operators, if available, will staff each of these locations.

Police protection/law enforcement on The Sea Ranch is provided by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and on Highway 1 by the California Highway Patrol.

We request that you securely lock all doors and windows before going to bed and before checking out. When you enter the house, you will find the sliding doors are secured with a wooden dowel. This is an added measure to prevent intrusion in case any of the sliding doors are left unlocked. The entrance to the home is also equipped with motion-activated video cameras with remote video monitoring.

Additionally, the Sea Ranch Association recently passed a new "Nuisance and Enforcement Rule" to help preserve the homeowner relationships within our neighborhoods. The new ordinance provides for the following noise limitations:

Non-Quiet Hours Limits

65 dBA intermittent

55 dBA constant

Quiet Hours Limits

55 dBA intermittent

45 dBA constant

Additionally, excessive noise is a leading indicator of property misuse. For this reason we have partnered with a noise monitoring service to keep our property safe, our neighbors happy and our excellent reputation in the community.  This service provides sensing of changes in the noise level in our home, and does not record any sounds. 

Location of fire extinguishers:

• Kitchen: under the sink

• Living room: Next to the wood-burning stove

• Master bedroom: Under the master bathroom sink (right side)

• Garage: In the cabinetry next to the dryer

Location of smoke alarms:

• Kitchen

• Each bedroom

Location of first aid kits:

• Master bathroom vanity

• Guest bathroom vanity

Phone and cellular networks:

• Home phone is a VOIP phone that switches off during power or internet outages

• Verizon is the most reliable cellular service followed by AT&T (which is spotty, at best)

Location of gas shutoff valve:

• Front courtyard, on the right wall as you come out of the front door to the courtyard

Emergency supplies:

• Throughout the home you will find charged emergency flashlights plugged into wall outlets

• You will also find four LED portable emergency lanterns in the entry hall closet on the top shelf

Emergency radio:

• In the entry hall closet on the top shelf you will find a Emergency Alert Radio

>>> For operating instructions please see Raynic CR10099Pro Emergency Radio

>>>Vista Del Mar guests should use Emergency Radio Channel 8

>>>In the event of an evacuation, guests should go to the Ohlson Ranch House.

>>>Another excellent local emergency response resource is KGUA 88.3FM in Gualala

Emergency exits:

• Main entrance

• Master bathroom suite entrance

• Operable sliding doors at either end of the master bedroom

• Operable sliding doors in the living room

• Operable windows in each bedroom

• Operable window in the master bath at the head of bath tub

Note: Most operable windows have a screen on them to keep bugs, moths and other critters out of the house

The Sea Ranch Volunteer Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire)

Our rural ecosystem's natural vegetation is vulnerable to wildfires. In order to protect our lives, homes and environment: No smoking, no fireworks and no open flames. Ever. Smoking is prohibited year-round on all trails, common areas and restricted common areas of The Sea Ranch. Dry forest and grasslands are an extreme wildfire hazard. Always know your potential evacuation route--and how to get to Highway 1--ideally by two different ways.

More info at these websites:

• Sea Ranch Fire Safe Council

• Fire Safe Sonoma

• CalFire

• The Sea Ranch Volunteer Fire Department

​​If a wildfire is approaching the general area:

• Park your vehicle facing out, pack your vehicle according to your checklist and keep keys, cell phone and flashlight easily accessible

• Close all windows and blinds

• Move any yard furniture away from home

• Leave garden hoses (hooked up) around the home

• Leave electricity ON and turn on porch light and some interior lights

• Dress in long pants, long sleeved shirt, goggles (or glasses), baseball cap and a bandana to cover the face; If possible, wear 100% cotton clothing

• Use phones (cell and house) only when necessary, as circuits can become overloaded, potentially preventing emergency calls from going through

We have several winter storms each year, some of which are severe and can cause lengthy power outages. To help you through, we provide charged flashlights and a battery-operated lantern, extra blankets and a manual can opener. Be sure you have bottled water, ready-to-eat foods and a telephone (cell) that doesn’t require electricity. Minimize travel to avoid dangerous mudslides and trees blocking the roadways. During an extended power outage (expected to be longer than 24 hours), the Del Mar Center and the Ohlson Ranch House will be open as shelters. They each have an emergency generator that provides power, lights, heat and kitchen facilities.

​Additional resources for winter storms and power outages:

• Northern California’s severe weather summary pge

• PG&E tips for storms, outages and safety

• Additional suggestions from The Sea Ranch Association

• Vista Del Mar evacuation map

Sonoma County is bounded on the west and the east by earthquake faults. Four active--or potentially active--faults are identified within the County’s boundaries. The Northern Segment of the San Andreas Fault lies off the west coast of the County, crosses land at Bodega Bay, goes out to sea and crosses the County again from Fort Ross, past the community of Sea Ranch and exiting the County at its northern border. The Northern Hayward/Rodgers Creek Fault enters Sonoma County at San Pablo Bay and extends northward through the City of Santa Rosa. The Maacama Fault lies to the east of the Healdsburg Fault and continues northward, passing east of the City of Cloverdale. The Hayward/Rogers Creek fault system has the highest likelihood of an M 6.7 or greater earthquake occurring before 2036. The largest earthquake within 30 miles of Sea Ranch, CA was a 4.4 Magnitude in 2014. This website provides a listing of recent earthquakes in the region. Visit Ready.gov for Earthquake safety and preparation tips and here for current information on California earthquakes.

In case of a tsunami, you have just two minutes to get 100 feet up! Your attitude and altitude will save you, your family and your guests. On occasion, an earthquake may trigger a tsunami. While our home is located high above the ocean on the bluff, it would be prudent to be aware of potential hazards from a large tsunami wave.​

Here are links to the Run-Up Chart and Evacuation Routes. NOAA’s West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center website offers complete information, including the current status of tsunami watches, warnings and advisories. Here is a list of frequently asked tsunami questions and answers.