It's 3AM, Tornado Sirens Going Off, Which Cel Do I Save?

Post by **Kaona** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:36 am

Life was like the movie Twister last night. Tornado sirens were wailing, the neighbors were calling to use our storm shelter (they think it is community property, but I don't mind), and you could clearly see the swirling vortex of terror forming and descending with each lightning strike to the west.

With husband and kids safely down in the hole, the TV weather guys assured me I had 15 minutes before the house was leveled. I grabbed things I could not live without - my purse (stop laughing, guys!), cel phone, the contents of the dryer (I'm not going to wear donated underwear), my camera (to record the aftermath)...and then suddenly it hit me! My cel and sketch collection in the office, in the glass cabinets...oh my what do I do with all of those lovelies?!

Ideas started popping in my head...I could put them in the gun safe (mental image - gun safe swirling in the tornado, dropped into nearby lake) or I could take them to the storm shelter (mental image - totally pissed off husband that I managed to save my cels and purse, but didn't bring food or his wallet down to the shelter), but the massive rains, hail and 80mph wind would shred them if I even tried. So, I sadly abandoned my collection.

Everything is fine today and we survived intact, and the rotation dissolved and went elsewhere. I'm getting an insurance rider for my collection today.

I got to thinking, if you could only rescue one piece from your collection in an emergency, which cel or sketch would you save? It is amazing what anime history can be lost with just one little storm. I think I would save my Sesshoumaru http://redeye.rubberslug.com/gallery/in ... mID=221549
I could sell him and apply the money toward the insurance deductable!

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:46 am

::reminds self to build an underground bunker for cels...::

I won't be able to chose one... I'd probably grab all I could.

pixie_princess · Post by **pixie_princess** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:46 am

I'm glad to hear that you and your family are safe. I can't imagine what it's like to be woken out of a sound sleep to the sounds of a tornado siren!

In regards to the other question... I have all of my cels split up between two celbooks right now. I'd probably go ahead and save the one that has all the expensive SM cels, kagome+ inuyasha, 2 FY cels, and the Cutey Honey Flash final eps cels.

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:45 pm

Ack - such a tough question!! @_@
Well, I have all of my HikaGo in one large
book, so I would probably just grab that
whole book!!

glorff · Post by **glorff** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:35 pm

Put the cels in the gun safe and put the gun safe in the shelter.......Problem solved

Maybe add some non perishable food and water too, if you have time

Mara · Post by **Mara** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:24 pm

Phew! I'm so glad the twister didn't touch down near you!

This idea of having to save cels in an emergency has been on my mind lately. I would love to buy a separate archival box for many of the cels in my collection, but the only thing holding me back is a little fear in the back of my mind. Quickly hauling 50 archival boxes down to my storm basement wouldn't be practical. So, my collection is hanging in my closet inside 3 Itoya books. After I knew my family and pets were safe from a disaster, you can bet the first possesions I'd run for would be my Itoyas!

But, to answer the question, if for some reason I could only save one cel? It's a brutal choice, but I think it would be this Gundam Wing cel of Duo:
http://mara.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_ ... mID=222407

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:25 pm

How much do you want to pay for a separate archival box for many of the cels in his or her collection but the only thing holding him or her back is a little fear in the back of his or her mind?

lcatino · Post by **lcatino** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:22 pm

Wow, That must have been really scary! Glad you are safe! ^_^

I would try and save my first wishlist and favorite cel of Sasuke

http://lianascels.rubberslug.com/galler ... mID=235261

And my OP sketch

http://lianascels.rubberslug.com/galler ... mID=228878

Of course, they are in different Itoya's, so I guess I'd probably just start grabbing books and running!

Xelloss · Post by **Xelloss** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:37 pm

I've already got an insurance rider on my cels, and keep them in a very sturdy very heavy armoire on a shelf of their own. They should be safe from anything other than fire or 3+ foot floods. I don't know how I'd get all my books out; I'd probably go for the oversized books and the smaller ones on top with the most expensive/rare ones first.

Glad you're ok.

- Karen

Post by **Kaona** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:04 pm

Thanks for the good thoughts everyone!

Hmm...not a bad idea Glorff, a gun safe down in the storm shelter! But then all of my neighbors would no longer fit in the hidey hole!

The shelter is well stocked with sleeping bags, porta toilet, TV, radio, air horn, gallons of water, canned goods, manga, pretty much everything (even hardwired for light and backup emergency light), but this storm came very early in the season before we had the chance to shop vac out the bugs and rotate out last year's food and water.

This was only the second time in 8 years we've had to use the shelter, thank goodness! The news said another round of storms is due in tomorrow night with more hail, possible tornadoes and up to 7" of rain! But now I am organized, have everything replenished, and ready to go with a huge heavy duty latched storage box on standby.

miz ducky · Post by **miz ducky** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:41 pm

I can't imagine having to make that choice. I think I would throw them all in the tub and then toss myself on top of them.

Not really. If I had my own home, I think it would be cool to make a little "safe room" on the interior to store them in, hopefully it would be heavy enough to not fly away.

To answer your question, I would carry as much as I could, probably grab the whole box as I took shelter. It's heavy, but adrenaline can help you do some crazy stuff.

Caroline · Post by **Caroline** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:37 am

oh my gosh, i am just relieved that you are safe!

the one cel i might save is actually on its way to me right now, and i dont have a scan yet. but i can tell you this, when i was little i had recurring nightmares about our house catching on fire. i always kept a packed bag ready to go full of my fav my little ponies. i was a slightly paranoid child.

Krafty · Post by **Krafty** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:50 am

Sorry to hear you have to cope with all that, Kaona. You must really love living where you do because it sounds like World War 2!

Saving just one cel wouldn't be suitable for me. I'd rather loose them all.
The 1 thing I'd pick up would be 1 Itoya folder of Akira cels. I have a few books of Akira cels so I'll have to put my favourite to the front of the pile, just in case I have to grab it quickly!