In this desert town, residents eagerly await ‘terror attacks’

So the residents of Playas, all 50 or so of those remaining from the peak of 1,000, say they are more than ready for their town to become a target for pickups laden with explosives and simulations of suicide bombs, water-supply poisoning and anthrax attacks.

In what might be the beginning of Playas’ renaissance, the Department of Homeland Security is channeling $5 million to a small New Mexico engineering school to buy the entire town. The school, in turn, aims to turn the town into one of the country’s top locations for anti-terrorism training.

‘‘I wish they’d hurry up and start hiring people,’’ said Carol Davis, a part-time medical technician. ‘‘I’d like a job driving an ambulance or something.’’

No one denies that steady jobs are scarce. A sign hanging on the Western Bank window sums up the level of local economic activity — ‘‘Bank hours: Friday only, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Drive-thru only.’’

The isolation of Playas is part of the allure for New Mexico Tech, which expects to complete the purchase in the next few weeks.

The university, which has 1,800 students, has undergone its own transformation in recent years, training more than 90,000 emergency workers to respond to terror attacks since the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. Altogether, it is receiving $20 million in grants from the Department of Homeland Security for anti-terrorism programmes.

Playas will be used mostly to train security, medical and military personnel to prevent attacks as well as respond to them. ‘‘The town has all the characteristics of a contemporary American community — the churches, the bank, the health clinic, even the baseball diamonds,’’ said Van Romero, vice president for research and economic development at New Mexico Tech. ‘‘Plus, it’s mainly empty.’’

It also has some unusual features for a town its size. Amenities include an airstrip capable of handling small jets and underground electric wiring connecting every home to the grid. —(NYT)