Eye on the Storm

4:15 p.m. Cazadero

Cazadero, Sonoma county's flooding epicenter, was quiet this afternoon as the storm drifted into the small community tucked into redwood-covered hills near the coast. "It rained really hard for a half hour and the lights kinda flickered, but this isn't much of anything." said Cazadero General Store clerk Avery Ocasa.

Stopping by for a gallon of milk, Lauren Barry said he wasn't worried either. "Up here, we thrive on redwoods and rain." he said.

Barry said he had lit his wood stove this morning to keep the house toasty if the power goes out, "but it doesn't look like it will," he said.

3:50 p.m. Bodega Bay

Coastal residents, still waiting for the expected storm to pack its full punch, took time this afternoon to get ready.

Clerk Gurpreet Singh of Diekman Store in Bodega Bay said sales of candles, tarps, "It's just the regulars who live here stocking up for the storm,"� he said.

At Emma's Coffee in Jenner, Hannah Waterbury said her family who lives in the hills above Jenner, had stocked up on essentials like food and water, "I guess it's going to be pretty bad,"� she said.

2:15 p.m. Doran Beach

The light and intermittent rain that fell on mostly quiet coastal roadways in the early afternoon, is increasing in intensity.

While most residents and tourists are staying indoors, a few brave souls have headed for the beach.

Members of a Willowside family, wearing bathing suits, were jumping through Doran Beach waves, despite cheek-numbing cold.

"It was only sprinkling in Santa Rosa. We thought it might be different out here," said one of the swimmers.

A half dozen wind and kite surfers were also out on the water, chasing strong winds.