Everything you need to know about OKIE 811

OKIE 811 is an organization that you call before you dig. They send locates out to mark lines for underground facilities or utility lines before any kind of work beneath the surface. The underground lines are marked with spray paint lines and flags.

OKIE 811 has a color code for flag colors called APWA Uniform Color Code, so everyone working or locating has a measure of knowledge about the exact underground utility lines there. BTC Broadband's flags are orange – which indicates communication, conduit, or alarm company lines. If a utility line is marked, it is not necessarily the company itself doing work; it could be another company or a homeowner.

As a homeowner or business owner, you have a responsibility to call in any plans to dig. OKIE 811 is a free service and is critical to call before any underground work. It is unsafe for you to hit a utility line potentially, and doing so can impact you and your neighbors' services. You will need to contact them at least three business days before you plan to have any digging projects.

Do not hesitate to call because of time constraints - it usually takes them 48 hours (about 2 days), excluding holidays, to complete a request. It is the law to do this, and your member utility companies can charge you for any damaged lines if you do not take the proper steps. You can submit a locate request here or call 8-1-1 or toll-free at (800)522-OKIE.

OKIE811.org has some great resources for homeowners, including a guide to safe digging, a pre-excavation checklist, and even helpful phone numbers. You can check them out here.