Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A car drives on a flooded road in Dauphin Island, Alabama

A child was killed when Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall on Tuesday, pounding states along the US Gulf Coast with wind, rain and surge waves.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office said a tree fell on a mobile home near Pensacola on Tuesday night. It did not give a name or age of the child.

A state of emergency has been declared in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Thousands were reported to be without power on Wednesday morning despite Gordon's downgrade from a hurricane to a depression.

Image copyright NHC Image caption The storm will carry rain into the US southern interior, forecasters say

Gordon made landfall just west of the Alabama-Mississippi border, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, with sustained winds of up to 70mph (110km/h).

The NHC had warned of "life-threatening" storm surges, and possible tornadoes.

Image copyright Getty Images

The child was "found deceased" just before 21:00 local time and no one else inside the home was injured, said the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Gordon could bring damaging storm surges along the coast

Gordon strengthened as it neared the coast on Tuesday, but did not reach hurricane status.

"Rapid weakening is forecast after Gordon moves inland, and is forecast to become a tropical depression on Wednesday," the NHC said in an advisory.

By Wednesday, wind speeds had dropped to 30mph, as the storm continued to move inland.

Heavy rains and the chance of flooding will continue for several days, according to the NHC.

More than 27,000 customers were hit by power cuts, the Associated Press news agency reported, mostly in coastal Alabama and south-eastern Mississippi.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A storm surge warning is in effect for Dauphin Island, Alabama

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Local residents have been building sand barriers to minimise flooding

Oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico also evacuated more than 50 platforms as the storm swept in, temporarily halting production.

The National Weather Service in New Orleans gave tips to city residents how to prepare for the arrival of the storm.

Meanwhile, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell warned: "The city's absolute number one priority is to ensure the safety of our residents."

New Orleans was devastated by deadly Hurricane Katrina in 2005.