April 12, 2018 - This month, Mayor Henry is reminding Fort Wayne area residents to contact 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects.
April marks the start of spring digging season, and data shows that many Fort Wayne area diggers do not call 811 before they dig to have their underground utility lines marked. Hitting an underground gas or electric line can results in injuries, property damage and inconvenient outages. To help reverse this trend, the Mayor partnered with Fort Wayne’s natural gas provider, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), to help get the word out on the importance of safe digging.
“Too many people dig without calling 811 in our city,” said Henry. “Hitting an underground line can be dangerous, and we want to help keep families safe.”
By law, diggers are required to call 811 or visit www.811Now.com two working days in advance of the project start date. Once a request is submitted, Indiana 811 notifies the appropriate utility companies. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, paint or both. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin around marked lines.
Jason Haner, NIPSCO’s manager of gas operations for the Fort Wayne area, added, “Whether it’s a big project or small one, contacting 811 can help you avoid a dangerous situation. It’s fast, it’s free and it’s the law.”
Visit www.indiana811.org for more information about 811.