MISS DIG 811 Celebrates 8/11 Day, Reminds Michigan Residents to Always Call 811 Before Digging

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Aug 08, 2018, 09:00 ET

DETROIT, Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MISS DIG 811, a Michigan non-profit corporation that operates as the underground utility safety notification system for the entire state, is leading a campaign to educate Michigan residents on the importance of calling 811 before digging – and what better time to do that than Saturday, August 11, or 8/11 Day.

MISS DIG 811 hopes this date on the calendar, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. Every hour, more than six damages to buried utilities occur because someone decided to dig without first calling 811.

No matter the type of project – installing a mailbox, putting in a fence, planting trees or shrubbery, building a patio or deck, or excavating a new garden area – Michigan residents should always call 811 several days before digging to have their site properly marked. This service is required by law and free to all Michigan residents.

"August 11 serves as an important reminder to all Michigan residents to call 811 before any digging project – no matter how minor you think it may be," said Bruce Campbell, chief executive officer, MISS DIG 811. "Through 8/11 Day, we hope to increase awareness of this free service which eliminates the risk of striking an underground utility line. Not having lines marked can result in hitting an underground utility line while digging which can cause serious injuries, disrupt service to entire neighborhoods, and potentially result in fines and repair costs."

To celebrate 8/11 Day, MISS DIG 811 will be onsite at the Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 11, where driver Joey Lagona will display 811 on his vehicle. A hot-air balloon featuring 811 will float over the stands, and an educational booth with giveaways will be on display in partnership with Consumers Energy.

Also, MISS DIG 811 has partnered with United Shore Baseball League and will be onsite at Jimmy John's Field Saturday, Aug. 11 as the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers take on the Eastside Diamond Hoppers. Electronic billboards promoting 8/11 Day will be on display during the game. MISS DIG 811 will also host an educational booth in partnership with DTE.

Recently, MISS DIG 811 opened a new office location in Flint to better meet the needs of its customers by increasing the amount of notification center representatives available to assist them.

For more information about 811 and safe digging practices visit www.missdig811.org.

About MISS DIG
MISS DIG System, Inc. is a Michigan Non-Profit Corporation that operates as the Underground Utility Safety Notification System for the entire state. MISS DIG 811 has received over 21 million locate requests resulting in nearly 189 million transmissions since 1970.

MISS DIG 811 provides this free service to homeowners, excavators, municipalities and utility companies via our web-based locate requests - elocate.missdig.org and rte.missdig.org, or by placing a toll-free call to 811 or 800-482-7171. MISS DIG 811 processes that locate request by contacting our over 1,700 members, who then come out and locate their facilities. The mission of MISS DIG System, Inc. is to safeguard the public, environment, property, and utility infrastructures and promote utility damage prevention through a quality, cost-effective process for our customers.