Planning a home improvement project? Here's what you should know before digging News 12 Staff Updated on:Apr 26, 2021, 4:34am EDT April is National Safe Digging Month! As the weather gets nicer, local utility companies are warning people to be careful while improving their homes. If you’re planning a home improvement project, here’s what you should know before digging: CALL 811 An estimated 11 million people in the United States dug last year without first having underground utility lines marked, creating a dangerous situation. Calling 811 before digging reduces the chances of damaging an underground line to less than 1%. The call and service are free, and it’s the law.