Following a home explosion on Wednesday night in Lexington, Missouri, caused by a natural gas leak, after a subcontractor accidentally struck a gas line that took the life of a five-year-old boy, Columbia City Utilities is urging residents to call before you dig.
Jason West, Communications and Outreach Supervisor for Columbia City Utilities says before putting a shovel in the ground, call or visit 811 – the national call before you dig number that will notify all electric, gas, or water providers of any lines that could cause problems to the property.
“A resident may think, ok, I will just call the city and have them mark the utility lines, but they don’t realize there are other telecommunications and other private lines out there, and so going through 811 gets everyone on the same page. If there is a gas line through Ameren, or maybe your water line is through the City of Columbia, but your power is through Boone Electric,” West explained.
Residents can indicate the location of their project and be notified of all existing lines near the project site.
West says they often run into issues with telecommunication lines more than any other service in Columbia.
He says instances where damage occurs to those lines have dropped by over 65% in recent years for the city.
West says if you suspect a gas leak, evacuate the property immediately and contact emergency services.