New York, September 03, 2021, SPA -- Two days after parts of the US east coast were hit by severe storms and rainfall, clean-up efforts are in full swing in New York City, dpa reported. Some 1,300 cars have been towed so far, the city's emergency management commissioner, John Scrivani, said on Friday. Emergency services pumped water from hospitals, government buildings and residential buildings. Damage was reported to more than 1,000 buildings. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he would focus on improving the safety of New Yorkers living in basement flats in the future. Several people drowned in the water entering the basements overnight into Thursday. --SPA 22:01 LOCAL TIME 19:01 GMT 0021 www.spa.gov.sa/w1613264