Courtesy: Chris McMurry, Modern Marketing Agency on behalf of the Indiana Governor's Office.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (April 4, 2019) — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a proclamation announcing April as Indiana Safe Digging Month. The proclamation reminds Indiana professional excavators and homeowners to contact Indiana 811 at least two full working days before starting any outdoor digging projects.

According to a recent national survey by Common Ground Alliance, 42 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year will put themselves at risk by not contacting Indiana 811. April marks the start of spring digging season, so Indiana 811 and Gov. Holcomb are encouraging homeowners to call 811 or visit www.811Now.com before they dig to prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient outages.

When calling 811 by phone or visiting www.811NOW.com, homeowners and contractors are connected to Indiana 811, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested dig site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, paint or both.

Anyone planning to dig should follow the five important steps for getting utilities marked – plan the project, contact Indiana 811, wait for the marks, confirm the marks and finally, dig with care.

“We join Gov. Holcomb in strongly encouraging individuals and companies to contact us before they begin digging,” said Chuck Muller, Director of Member and Public Relations for Indiana 811. “By having underground lines marked, homeowners and contractors are making an important decision that can help keep them and their communities safe and connected.”

Every digging project, no matter how large or small, necessitates contacting 811. Installing a mailbox, putting in a fence, building a deck and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that should include contacting 811 beforehand.

Visit www.indiana811.org for more information about 811 and the safe digging process.

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