The gas line was ruptured

Yesterday workmen were using a backhoe to dig a trench for a new sewer line in the house across the street which is being remodeled.  Unfortunately, the backhoe hit the gas line and ruptured it.  Natural gas spewed into the neighborhood.  The police, fire department and gas company personnel arrived very quickly.  The neighborhood was evacuated.  It took about two hours before everyone was permitted to return to their homes.  Either a fireman or gas company individual went into every home checking to re-light water heaters, furnaces, etc.  The gas company personnel worked all day long and into the evening to repair the broken gas line.  As Judy sat at the end of the street during the evacuation (I was at the Church with Bobby), a neighbor remarked to Judy that a simple call to 811 would have enabled someone from the gas company to come and tell them where the gas line was located so they could avoid it.  Such a call would have been so simple and saved the neighbors a lot of trouble, probably the construction company a lot of headache and money.  Why is it that we so often think we don't need to ask for help?