Information courtesy of Virginia 811

ROANOKE, Va. - Whether you’re a homeowner with a shovel or a professional excavator using mechanized equipment contacting 811 Before You Dig is vital to safety. It’s often a surprise to homeowners that simple projects like landscaping, fencing or even installing a mailbox can be dangerous and disruptive when digging without knowing where underground utility lines are located.

Knowing where underground utility lines are before putting a shovel in the dirt helps prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient service outages.

Did you know that buried utilities are hit every few minutes in the U.S.? Striking a single line can result in serious injuries, service disruptions and costly repairs. Before starting any digging projects - no matter how large or small  - it’s important to contact 811 by phone or online to submit a dig request. Contacting 811 is free and easy.

National 811 Day is celebrated each August 11 (8-11 on the calendar). In recognition of this day, 811 encourages all homeowners and professional excavators to “Dig with C.A.R.E.” and follow this simple set of steps designed to keep you safe:

• Contact 811

• Allow time for marking (3 working days)

• Respect and protect the marks

• Excavate carefully