DES MOINES, Iowa — It’s calm before the storm in Des Moines, as it’s just a few weeks until tens of thousands of people will be in town for the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

And it will put a strain on a restaurant industry already facing a staffing shortage.

“We’re an all-hands-on-deck industry right now,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association.

She says Iowa’s economy, with low unemployment rates, has made fewer people turn to waiting tables or working in kitchens for a job. Add to that Des Moines’ exploding restaurant scene and you get plenty of jobs, but not enough people to fill them.

“I know folks that have brought in family members just to help them get through as they seek employees,” Dunker said.

She forecasts 1,600 new jobs in the service industry in 2016. Good news for those seeking employment, but restaurant owners are focused on serving tens of thousands of basketball fans coming to town in a few weeks.

“From the standpoint of being able to be able to schedule, and own and plan, it’s very difficult because you are really handicapped if you have even one employee that calls in sick or misses a shift,” Dunker said.

That’s why restaurants like Olympic Flame are looking for extra help and keeping all their servers on call during March Madness.

“You want to do the best job you can for your customers,” said server George Trizis. “Somebody doesn’t show up in the daytime for a lunch position and stuff, we’ll be able to call a couple of night time servers.”

There’s also a shortage of hotel rooms.

Hotels in the heart of downtown, such as Des Lux and the Hampton Inn, are booked solid.

Hyatt Place and the Marriott do have rooms but expect to be booked when the brackets are released March 13.

Despite the challenges, those in the hospitality industry view the tournament as an opportunity to show off the city of Des Moines for future events.

“Hospitality and tourism go hand-in-hand. They are one in the same. So you might see people that are coming into town for the culinary scene and they’ll stay for something else and vise-versa,” Dunker said.

Dunker said if you’re looking to eat out over March Madness weekend, get a reservation.