Gas cut off for carbon monoxide leak

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Emergency crews were dispatched again to Swanson Homes for a carbon monoxide leak early Monday morning, according to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

PRHA's Deputy Executive Director Kathy Warren says firefighters cut off gas to several apartments after finding an elevated carbon monoxide reading.

This comes one month after Inez and Leroy Stith died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the same residential complex in June. In that case, 42 units were evacuated because they tested positive for carbon monoxide.

WAVY.com spoke with Natika Veal, a resident of Swanson Homes in July, who said her home tested positive for carbon monoxide twice in the span of one month.

Jereon Brown with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development told WAVY.com July 25 the PRHA is working with the HUD to purchase 130 new water heaters for Swanson Homes. Brown said the water heaters could be installed within the next three or four months.

WAVY.com will continue to follow this developing story.