Consumers Energy is reminding people how to get underground lines marked for free before a digging project.
Every year on Aug. 11, the company likes to raise awareness of the “8-1-1″ phone number. That’s how you can call the free service of marking underground lines before starting any digging project.
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Consumers said you should remember the three Rs of broken underground lines -- recognize, react, report.
Know the warning signs of an underground leak -- a rotten egg smell, a blowing or hissing sound, dying or discolored plants in areas where they normally grow healthy, dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground, and in the worst-case scenario, actual flames if a gas leak is ignited.
Get somewhere safe outside. Don’t start your car or use any electronics, and don’t try to solve the problem yourself by finding the source of the leak or shutting off a natural gas valve. Don’t go back inside until a Consumers employee says it’s safe.
Finally, to report a problem, call 911 first, and then call Consumers Energy.