Alacrity

Well, the grad school decision must be made by Thursday, the 15th. Since I'm pretty sure I'll go to Iowa and certain that I'll be cold, I've been trying to find a good site that will give me tips on what I need to know to live in the midwest. However, I can't find a darn thing... The best I've got is the AAA guide How to Go on Ice & Snow (catchy, eh?)
I'm not sure exactly what kind of info I'm looking for, but I do know that my coworkers laughed at me for not knowing what snow boots are. Is Iowa far enough into the plains to have dust storms? I know I'm headed into Tornado Alley. Will my apartment complex have a cellar (a la Wizard of Oz)?