National Grid Urges Customers To Call Before You Dig, It’s the Law

August 11 (8-11) is National 811 Safe Digging Day

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. – August 11 (8-11), is National 811 Safe Digging Day, and National Grid is reminding customers that every digging project, no matter how large or small, always requires a call to 811. Whether you're a professional excavator or a weekend warrior a simple phone call can potentially avert tragedy and help to prevent damage to utilities, minimize service disruptions, and reduce potential fines and repair costs.

Nationally every six minutes, an underground utility line is damaged because someone didn’t contact 811 before digging. Striking a single underground utility line can cause injury, repair costs, fines, and inconvenient outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants contacting 811. Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before you dig will help protect you and your family from injury.

“It is critically important to call 8-1-1 before you dig to get all utilities marked,” said Robert De Marinis, National Grid vice president of New York Gas Operations. “Damage to vital utility services by excavation equipment results in hundreds of interruptions each year and disrupts residents and businesses in our communities. In some cases, the consequences are even more severe, including destroyed property, serious injuries or even fatalities.”

The depth of utility lines varies, and there may be multiple utility lines in one common area.  A quick phone call to 811 at least two days before digging connects callers to an operator at a local One Call Center who will provide information on when participating utilities must clearly mark their underground equipment. The call is simple and the service is free of charge.

Whether you're planting a tree or shrub, or installing a deck or pool, every job requires a call to 811 to know what’s below before digging. State laws mandate that 811 be called several days in advance of beginning projects that require excavation.  Failure to call 811 may be punishable by fines, but even more important, calling 811 is the right thing to do because it helps keep everyone safe by preventing potentially deadly contact with underground electricity and gas lines.

If You Suspect a Natural Gas Leak, Call National Grid

National Grid reminds customers to take the following safety actions anytime a gas leak is suspected:

• Evacuate your home and move to a safe area.
• Do NOT smoke, light matches or do anything to create a flame.
• Do NOT touch any light switches or electrical equipment and do NOT pull any plugs from outlets.  These items may produce a spark that might ignite the gas and cause an explosion.
• If you have a gas range or oven, make sure the controls are turned OFF. Extinguish any easily accessible open flames such as lit candles, but never try to put out a fire you suspect may be caused by escaping gas. Leave immediately.
• Do NOT assume someone else will report the condition.
• Call 911 and National Grid’s gas emergency number from a safe location:

  • Long Island and the Rockaways:       1-800-490-0045
  • Metro NY:                                               1-718-643-4050

• National Grid has crews on call 24 hours/7 days a week who will respond immediately.
• Provide the exact location, including cross streets.
• Let us know if sewer construction or digging activities are going on in the area.
• Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe.