Des Moines, Iowa, July 24, 2004 -- This tornado shelter for 400 campers at the Iowa State Fairgrounds outside Des Moines was completed in 2003. The 5,200 square-foot shelter is 100 feet long by 71 feet wide. When not in use as an emergency shelter, the large multi-purpose building is used by both the fairground staff and campers for restrooms, showers, a laundry area, offices, and meeting space. The shelter, funded through a $600,000 grant from FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program with the Iowa State Fair funding the remaining $150,000. In June 1998, a storm with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour (mph) caused over $465,000 in damage to the State Fair complex, severely impacting the cam
