USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

5 Headaches You'll Avoid by Calling 811 Before You Dig

Friday, March 1, 2013

1. Cable/ satellite interruption

Don't want to miss your favorite show? Even your DVR can't save you if unsafe digging cuts the cable

Cartoon image of a tv showing static

2. Power outage

Because everything you, your neighbors, and the NFL's Super Bowl contenders want to play with runs on electricity.

Baseball stadium blackout

3. Ruptured water piping

Flooding your neighborhood will never be this fun.

4. Property damage/ fines

You've been saving for those home improvements for a while now. Don't throw that money out the window by damaging a pipeline; hold onto your hard-earned savings by calling 811 before you dig. Also, not calling 811 before starting digging projects is against the law and could result in fines!

Clip of little girl throwing money out of the window

5. Injuries/death

Unsafe digging is no joke—it can cause death and major injuries. Just ask two-time Olympian and One Calls of America spokesman Cliff Meidl. When Cliff struck buried high-voltage electrical cables with a jackhammer, he endured 30,000 volts of electricity, lost two toes, suffered burns to his legs and knees, and went into cardiac arrest three times. The risk is almost 100% preventable with a call to 811. 


811Eng_ver_RGB logo