NEW HAMPTON - One deputy was shot in the leg. A terrorist unleashed a mysterious chemical and held four persons hostage. Several residents living within a block received pink evacuation slips. Law enforcement officers, though, weren't particularly concerned Thursday, and curious bystanders calmly watched and smiled. No blood was shed, no one inhaled toxic chemicals and the "hostages" actually volunteered for the job.

New Hampton held its first full-scale terrorist and biological chemical disaster drill in and around the Chickasaw County Courthouse. One of 90 Iowa counties participating in U.S. Department of Justice grant program, Chickasaw held the first terrorist-driven exercise in the state.

About 145 players from local and regional law enforcement agencies and military, emergency and civic bodies turned out for the drill, which started at 3 p.m. and lasted well into the night.

The cordoned-off courthouse scene featured gun shots, fire hoses and bright blue decontamination suits, creating a convincing disaster site. The drill captivated some New Hampton residents for hours.

Brandon Henn, Garrett Hogeland and Amber Breitbach, all 11, staked out a front-row seat on the stoop of a nearby church. They were flanked by Ryan Kramer and Tanner Weigel, both 12.

"This is unbelievable," Henn said as the action unfolded. "It's to show that New Hampton …"

" … That we are ready for anything," Weigel said, finishing his friend's thought.

The group was impressed Chickasaw County even had special weapons and tactics team, thinking such things only existed in big cities.

Wearing gas masks and shouldering assault rifles, the seven-member team charged the building. Officers emerged with four hostages in tow and, later, the terrorist. The contaminated hostages stripped down to bathing suits and faced a cold water from hoses.

The Northeast Iowa Response Group hazardous materials team based in Waterloo took care of the nontoxic gas. The 71st Civil Support Team based in Des Moines was also on hand to identify the chemical with its mobile lab.

Hostages Sarah Ashley, Santana Hegland, Luke O'Hollearn and Ryan Huffman said the experience was strange to say the least. Although just a simulation, the group said their adrenaline kicked in when the black-clad officers rushed in, searched and handcuffed them until they were determined victims, not terrorists.

"I kind of knew what was going on … but I got caught in the moment," Ashley said.

The day was all seriousness for some law enforcement and emergency officers. They barked orders into walkie-talkies and relayed the wounded deputy's condition.

Organizers designed the project - eight months in the making - to be as realistic as possible. That meant authoring a hypothetical scenario that could, at least theoretically, play out in rural Iowa.

"Chemicals don't have to be anthrax or nerve gas to cause a concern," New Hampton Police Chief Mike Anderson said before the drill. "I don't expect to find Saddam up here or anything of that nature."

Ken Rasing, director of the Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency, was one of the drill's organizers.

He said the fictitious terrorist attack was supposed to represent a homegrown, antigovernment extremist, not al-Qaida.

That was a point of confusion for some onlookers. Though glad their county was prepared, some thought the threat of a terrorist attack far-fetched. To them, what comes to mind when they hear the word terrorism are 9-11 hijackers.

Residents hold faith that New Hampton is safe, but current events inevitably shake the feelings of security once taken for granted.

A fatal shooting Wednesday in a New York's City Hall and murders in small-town Iowa make residents glad for cautionary measures and simulated disaster drills.

"I think it's good," post office worker Carolyn Geschke said. "I'd rather have them prepared and not need it."

Participating Iowa counties have until May 31, 2004, to complete terrorist-driven exercises and qualify for grant money. Black Hawk County will hold a weapons of mass destruction drill in September.