Tropical Storm Gordon Hits Alabama-Mississippi Border, Weakens, One Child Dead

A child was killed in the northwestern part of Florida after a tree fell onto a mobile home in the 4000 block of West Bobe Street, Pensacola, due to strong winds and heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Gordon.

Thousands were left without power in the area as the storm made landfall just west of the Alabama-Mississippi border Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The storm weakened by Wednesday.

Pensacola, a waterfront city where the fatality was reported, has a population of over 53,000 people. The death was the first confirmed fatality due to the storm. At 8.41 p.m. EDT, Escambia County Emergency Communications was alerted about a tree falling on a mobile home. On arriving at the scene at 8.48 p.m. EDT, crews found that a large oak tree limb had fallen on the back of a mobile home.

Later, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) confirmed one child was killed in the incident. The age and the identity of the child were not released. No other injuries were reported at the scene.

According to a resident, Amanda Ray, there was a crack and a scream when the tree limb fell on the structure. She told Pensacola News Journal it was almost indecipherable due to the howling winds of the storm, but she soon realized it was a person screaming. "It was just awful," she said.

Ray and another resident, John Newell, saw multiple ambulances, fire trucks and Sheriff's Office vehicles rushing to the scene as they stood outside their homes Tuesday, reported Pensacola News Journal.

The storm made landfall with a sustained speed of 70 mph, according to reports. Though it was expected to turn into a hurricane, the maximum sustained wind speed decreased to 50 mph with higher gusts later. A storm must have sustained wind speeds above 74 mph in order to be classified as a hurricane. According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is expected to weaken as it moves over land and might even turn into a tropical depression later in the morning.

A storm surge warning was in effect for areas between Pascagoula, Mississippi, to Dauphin Island; East of Dauphin Island to Navarre; and Mouth of the Pearl River to Okaloosa-Walton County Line, a public advisory issued by the center at 2 a.m. EDT said.

A storm surge warning means rising water moving inland from the coastline could lead to life-threatening flooding.

“This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials,” the advisory said.

The center also warned there might be 4 to 8 inches of rainfall over the western Florida Panhandle, southwest Alabama, southern and central Mississippi, northeastern Louisiana, and southern Arkansas, which can cause flash flooding.

“A couple of tornadoes are possible near the coasts of Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle,” the report said.

Reports said the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have declared a state of emergency in the states due to the storm. The storm is moving northwest at a speed of 14 mph. “A northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days,” the report said.