Politics: These photos show the scale of destruction from Hurricane Harvey

The storm has driven thousands of people from their homes and killed at least nine people. Rain is expected to keep falling until Thursday.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas over the weekend, delivering several feet of rain across the southeastern part of the state and driving thousands of residents from their homes.

At least nine people have been confirmed dead, and authorities expect the figure will rise.

The storm, which made landfall on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of up to 130 mph, has been downgraded to a tropical storm as of Monday evening. Forecasters predict the rain will continue until Thursday — by then, total rainfall may reach 50 inches in certain areas.

The photos and video clips below show something of the scale of the storm's damage:

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Friday. Rescuers and evacuees travelled down flooded streets on motorboats.

Here's a scene in Dickinson, Texas, as captured by ABC News:

Cars were submerged, and highways were deserted and flooded.

Traffic lights were toppled.

Homes and businesses were destroyed.

Boats were toppled in this storage facility in Rockport, Texas.

One person from the coastal city was reported dead.

Here's a shopping centre in Houston inundated with water.

Evacuees waded down highways to search for shelter.

Rescue crews were sent to patrol neighbourhoods by boat.

The US Coast Guard also sent helicopters to help.

Many waited in their homes and neighbourhoods for rescue crews to arrive.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner defended his decision not to issue an evacuation order before the hurricane made landfall.

"You literally cannot put 6.5 million people on the road," he said at a press conference, later adding, "You issue an evacuation order and put everyone on the highway, you are really asking for a major calamity."

Others were creative with their transportation methods. Here, Alexendre Jorge evacuates 4-year-old Ethan Colman on a paddleboard in Houston.

Pet owners struggled to keep themselves and their animals safe.

A group of men pushed a stalled pickup truck through a flooded Houston street.

For more Hurricane Harvey coverage on Business Insider:

• 'Texas has never seen an event like this': Harvey pummels state with 'catastrophic,' 'unprecedented' flooding — here's the latest

• Tracking Harvey: Before-and-after images show the catastrophic flooding in Houston

• The best charities to give to in the wake of Hurricane Harvey

The storm has driven thousands of people from their homes and killed at least nine people. Rain is expected to keep falling until Thursday. Read Full Story