Thanks to a quick response by a city plow crew, Raynee Jones was born in a hospital room and not a Rapid City hotel room Thursday night.

Parents Chasity and Eric Jones came from Howes in eastern Meade County to the Dakota Pines Inn by Wal-Mart on Wednesday in anticipation of the birth of their third baby. But blustery winds and driving sleet and rain gave way to a blizzard by Thursday morning.

"We were all hungry, but no one could get out of the parking lot," said grandmother Eva McMeekan, who came from Illinois for the birth.

Blowing snow and drifts prevented travel, and by midmorning, the family was worried about more than just food: Chasity's contractions kicked in, and the hotel staff began to prepare for the birth by gathering extra sheets and scissors.

"We thought we could call an ambulance, but how would they get in?" McMeekan said.

The Joneses also have Tayson, 5, and Jaysee, 3, and babies tend to come more quickly when it's not a firstborn, McMeekan said, so she called the city of Rapid City and asked for an emergency plow.

Don Brumbaugh, superintendent of the street division, said city plow trucks immediately responded to the hotel and plowed enough of the lot for the family to leave for the hospital.

"It seems like every blizzard, we get one of those. We do the best we can to accommodate," Brumbaugh said of the call. "It sounded like they were having the baby fairly quickly. We're glad they got out."

Eric drove the family to the hospital - across town in white-out conditions - but Chasity said she was too busy to worry about the storm.

"I was focused on having a baby," she said. "I just didn't want to have it in a hotel."

The baby did come fast: 9-pound, 6-ounce Raynee was born at Rapid City Regional Hospital within an hour and 40 minutes of the family leaving the hotel.

"It's just one of those good stories," Brumbaugh said.

McMeekan said she will stay with the family for a couple of days, but isn't sure it will be at her daughter's house. Their power was still out from storm.

With the storm's challenges behind them on Friday afternoon, she looked down at her newest granddaughter, rocking the baby, who was bundled up in a blanket and sleeping.

"She didn't have a worry in the world yesterday," McMeekan said, laughing. "I'm just glad it's all over and everything is good."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com