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September 2023 DIRT

🎸Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ 🕶️

Indiana 811 recently released its brand new educational animated video, Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’, in which iconic Indiana 811 mascot Holey Moley sports a slick 1950s look and educates viewers about the importance of safe digging and contacting 811…and what can happen if you don’t.  

Featuring custom animation and music, Holey Moley came to life in collaboration with the New York-based award-winning animation company Idea Rocket and will air throughout Indiana on TV and radio stations, gas pumps through Gas Station TV advertising, social media, Indiana 811’s website, and more. The video is fun, memorable, and easily digestible, making it an effective way to educate fellow stakeholders, homeowners, and children about 811 and the role it plays in keeping communities safe and connected to vital utilities. 

We encourage you to share this video with your colleagues, as well as your organization’s marketing/communication department to ensure it reaches your target audiences. The video will make a wonderful addition to your education and outreach tools, whether you decide to integrate it into your website, social media, public awareness campaigns or otherwise, Holey Moley will captivate audiences and deliver a crucial public safety message. The new video, in 30-second and 60-second versions, is available on Indiana 811’s YouTube page.

Register Today: 2023 Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference

The 2023 Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference, set to take place Nov. 14-16 at the historic French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana, will rock the house as hundreds of damage prevention stakeholders convene for a week of interactive educational sessions and 1950s themed fun. Last year’s MWDPTC saw its largest attendance in conference history, and we anticipate the 2023 MWDPTC will garner an even larger crowd of dedicated stakeholders.

The 2023 MWDPTC’s 1950s era theme was inspired by Indiana 811’s new educational animated video, Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ and is marked by a custom logo and tagline – Diggin’ Damage Prevention. The conference will kick off in style at Tuesday night’s Welcome Reception, the Boogie Woogie Bash, where attendees will enjoy an immersive night of 1950s fun, featuring live music from the era, delicious food, ample time to peruse the Expo Hall and explore the industry’s latest offerings, and a costume and booth decorating contest. Additionally, the Boogie Woogie Bash will be extended an hour later than previous MWDPTC Welcome Receptions to give attendees more time to enjoy the festivities.

The 2023 MWDPTC is especially excited this year about our keynote and featured speakers. Keynote speaker and American war hero Mark Nutsch will detail his experience as a mission leader of a 12-man covert mission to Afghanistan where he and his team achieved the seemingly impossible goal of capturing the city of Mazar-i-Sharif and overthrowing the oppressive Taliban regime, liberating an entire country in a matter of weeks. Featured speaker Lee Shelby will share his personal story of overcoming adversity as he experienced a traumatic workplace injury when working with utilities, resulting in the loss of both his hands.

Additionally, we are thrilled to announce that the widely recognized 811 Bike, created by the TV Show Orange County Choppers, will be featured in this year’s Expo Hall, courtesy of One Call Concepts. If you have a piece of equipment that you would like to present to your fellow MWDPTC attendees that is unique or vital to our industry, please contact us. The 2023 MWDPTC is your chance to show it off, and your participation is welcomed and appreciated. 

For more information about the 2023 MWDPTC, visit the conference website and contact us with any questions. We hope to see you in French Lick this November for an unforgettable event!

Celebrating 8/11 Day Throughout August

We created an integrated branding strategy for 811 Day throughout Indiana, featuring our new “Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ Artwork!” On 8/11 Day and throughout the month of August, Indiana 811 shared the safe digging message with thousands of Hoosiers, and these public awareness efforts are highlighted in our new video, 811 Day 2023 with Indiana 811.

  • Indiana 811 partnered with the Indianapolis Indians to share the Indiana 811 and safe digging message with baseball fans on Aug. 11. Our Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ video took center stage between innings and had fans captivated while Holey Moley serenaded them with his custom damage prevention jingle. Indiana 811 also partnered with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Evansville Otters and South Bend Cubs to share the importance of safe digging with baseball fans. Games featured 811 signage, branded giveaway items, sponsored fireworks displays and more.
  • Artwork from our Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ inspired branding campaign was featured prominently across the Indiana State Fair on Midway flags, shuttles, hand sanitizing stations, the family dining plaza and more. Indiana 811 also had a booth at the fair where our Education and Outreach Specialists worked to inform fairgoers of the importance of contacting 811 and the role that Indiana 811 plays in keeping their communities safe and connected.
  • As a part of the Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ branding campaign, Indiana 811 debuted digital billboards across the state of Indiana featuring artwork inspired by the educational video. The billboards emphasized the importance of contacting 811 before digging and featured fun 1950s lingo.
  • Indiana 811 Education & Outreach Specialists traveled throughout the state to deliver 811-branded cupcakes to radio stations on Aug. 11 to spread the 811 Before You Dig message to listeners across the state. Indiana 811 received media coverage from prominent outlets, including WNDU and WFFT, as they reminded their viewers and readers of the importance of contacting 811 before every dig.
  • At the beginning of summer, Indiana 811 launched its annual I Dig Summer Sweeps, which encourages excavators to enter for the chance to win $500 toward a yard renovation.
  • Indiana 811 partnered with highly rated radio host Tony Katz to educate WBIC listeners about the importance of contacting 811 before digging in addition to how the 811 process works. Throughout the month of August, Katz shared key takeaways about the 811 process and why it matters.
  • Indiana 811, in partnership with the IURC, teamed up with Purdue and Indiana University Athletics to spread the word about safe digging with Hoosiers and Boilermakers during basketball and football season. The universities included Indiana 811 creative artwork from the Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ branding campaign across their social media and websites in honor of 8/11 Day. 
  • Indiana 811 and the safe digging message are on permanent display at Tell City Jr.-Sr. High School’s scoreboard, along with Ohio Valley Gas. The scoreboard features a phrase that emphasizes the importance of the companies as an integral part of the community, keeping people safe and making lives better.

Indiana 811 and The Children’s Museum Partner to Educate Children About 811

Indiana 811, in partnership with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, has established a relationship with the award-winning Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the world’s largest children’s museum, to educate future diggers on the world of 811 and Knowing What’s Below through a series of interactive displays. 

The popular dinosaur section of the museum, “Dinosphere,” just underwent a major renovation, and Indiana 811 signage features prominently throughout, including in the “Dig Pit,” an area where children can dig for dinosaur bones. Playing on the theme of digging for bones, an interactive display in Dinosphere helps to educate kids on buried utility lines by letting them see everything that can potentially be underground by using acrylic filters on paddles that slide across the “underground” surface. The Children’s Museum also featured creative work from the Holey Moley Rocks Safe Diggin’ branding campaign in its magazine to educate readers on 811 and safe digging practices. With a yearly attendance rate of over 1 million, Indiana 811 looks forward to many more years of sponsoring The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. 

Positive Response for Increased 811 System Efficiency

Positive Response through Indiana 811’s Exactix software allows excavators to check if a Member Utility, or their Contract Locator, participates and has responded to a locate request paving the way for a safer excavation and reducing the need for additional notices. This is a valuable tool for stakeholders, as it streamlines the 811 system by improving communication and transparency between excavators and utility owners, saving time and money for all parties involved in the process. 

To check Indiana 811’s Positive Response system, log into your Exactix Pro account and select the Responses tab form within the ticket. If you do not have an Exactix Pro account but want to see the status of a request, enter the ticket number and phone number using this tool, then click on the Responses tab from within the ticket to view its status. 

To prevent damage to underground utilities at your intended dig site, it is crucial to understand, confirm and verify Positive Response codes. You can learn more about the Indiana 811 Positive Response system and the specific response codes in use that are supported by Exactix on Indiana 811’s Pros page and Member Utility page. 

*Please keep in mind that the Member Utilities or their Contract Locator may not participate in this system.

The Damage Prevention Councils of Indiana

Indiana Damage Prevention Councils (DPCs) bring together underground facility owners, operators, government agencies, excavators, industry associations, and service providers to improve safety and reduce damages to underground utilities. Damage Prevention Councils also have a voice on legislation for excavation and related processes. For more information on our Hoosier DPCs, including upcoming meetings, contact information for personnel and more, visit the Indiana 811 website. Upcoming DPC meetings for the month of September can be found below: 

Northern Chapter:

  • Sept. 27, 2023: Virtual meeting at 1:00 p.m.

Southern Chapter: 

  • Sept. 21, 2023: In-person meeting at the Vanderburgh County 4-H grounds at 10:00 a.m.