SAN FRANCISCO -- Hundreds of people visited ocean beach in San Francisco Sunday -- one day after a massive quake in Chile triggered a tsunami advisory along the pacific coast.

Beachgoers said they're ready to leave the beach at a moments notice if they receive a warning that a tsunami is on the way.

“It's a nice day, I thought we'd just come down here and take our chances,” said Kristen Baldwin, a beachgoer.

State and county emergency responders are constantly monitoring -- watching for tsunamis headed for the pacific coast.

An advisory means a tsunami capable of producing strong and potentially dangerous currents is expected to hit the coastline; a warning means a tsunami is expected to make landfall and inundate areas that could experience severe destruction.

Tsunami advisories and warnings are issued county by county -- each one deciding how best to warn people in their beach areas.

In San Francisco, the department of emergency management says if a tsunami warning is issued, people living near the beach and beach goers can expect to hear a siren and a warning.

“If you do hear those sirens and you're out by the beach it's important that you evacuate to higher ground. and there are signs out in that area that indicate evacuation routes,” said Laura Adleman, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.

San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties all closed beaches Saturday in response to the tsunami advisory following the Chilean earthquake.

The California Emergency Management Agency coordinates the state wide response to disasters like tsunamis, making sure information gets to the appropriate emergency personnel in each county.

Emergency workers advised people to stay away from the water but, despite the advisory, curious onlookers still made their way to the water.

California’s emergency management agency said that was dangerous and that everyone should heed a warning when it comes.

“It's as simple as just being in the wrong place at the wrong time in some cases, so we're telling folks please don't go out into the water, don't go onto the coastline, don't think that if you're parked on a bluff that you're protected, a tsunami is a very dangerous thing,” said Kelly Huston, California Emergency Management Agency.

And San Francisco's Department Of Emergency Response said the earthquake in Chile and the tsunami advisory along the west coast is a good reminder for people to prepare for disaster.

On their Web page -- 72 Hours.org -- emergency workers said people need to be prepared to be on their own for a long as three full days in the case of a major disaster like a tsunami or an earthquake like the one that struck Chile.