Cell Phone Use Growing

PEMCO Insurance issued a news release today, March 2, that shows more and more Washingtonian drivers admit to using hand-held devices while driving. The PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, conducted by FBK Research, shows that the number of drivers using hand-held cell phones has more than doubled in the past 20 months, from 17% to 41%. Texting while driving also is growing, jumping from 3% of Washington drivers just 20 months ago to 22%.

Thank you to PEMCO Insurance Company

Only 1-in-4 Have Flood Coverage

With only 1-in-4 homes covered in the Green River Valley, WA area, insurance commissioner Mike Kriedler is urging residents to purchase now, especially with the 30 day waiting period.

“Recent work on the Howard Hanson Dam has lowered the risk of catastrophic flooding in the valley. That’s the good news,” Kreidler said. “But the risk of flooding is still significantly higher than normal. Getting this relatively low-cost coverage can protect against major losses.”

FEMA will be revising their flood zone in the Green River Valley and these maps will likely broaden the area considered high-risk. These new maps take effect in September 2010.

Many don't realize that renter's can get contents-only coverage starting at only $39 for the year. However, we are suggesting that they consider building coverage too in case the building does not have a master policy for flood.

Kriedler adds, “renters shouldn’t assume that their apartment owner’s insurance will cover their losses, because it generally doesn’t,” said Kreidler. “A flooded apartment can easily lead to thousands of dollars in damages. Renters have to protect themselves, too.”


Log on to our website: www.sav-on.com for a quick quote or call us 1-888-867-2866.

PEMCO Addresses Car Maintenance

PEMCO Insurance issued a news release today, December 1, that shows Washingtonian drivers understand changing their oil and filter can prevent costly breakdowns. The PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, conducted by FBK Research, shows that 53% said changing the oil and filter is the single most important step they can take, more important than regular tune-ups, changing air filters, changing the transmission fluid, back-flushing the radiator, or responding to the check-engine light. PEMCO’s network of auto shops agrees.


Thank you PEMCO

FREE Santa Photos!

Come in for your FREE photo with Santa. Please bring a donation for Northwest Harvest (non-perishable food items or monetary donations). Limit one per family please.

Hosted by SAV-ON Insurance
22815 Pacific Hwy S
Des Moines WA 98198
Sunday, December 13th
11am and 2pm

Veterans & Military Personnel? Enter CARSTAR's Contest!

All veterans & military personnel are invited to come in to Bob Bjorneby’s CARSTAR Federal Way Collision & place their name in an appreciation drawing for gift certificate for dinner at the Space Needle and one night’s accommodation at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle.

No Purchase Necessary
(must show military ID or proof)

Drawing to be held November 30th, 2009.

Note: this drawing is being held in partnership with Federal Way, Des Moines and Kent CARSTAR stores. CARSTAR employees and immediate family members are not eligible.

Bob Bjorneby's CARSTAR Federal Way Collision
1750 So. 327th St
Federal Way WA 98003
Phone : 253-874-9330

Chance of Flooding Decreased, Residents Jubilant but Vigilant

ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Sandbags are lined up around the Green River to prepare for potential flooding.


The Army Corps of Engineers has been working hard to make secure adjustments and repairs on the Howard Hanson Dam and good news arrived last Friday...the chances of flooding have been lowered from a 1 in 3 chance to a 1 in 25 chance!

Since January, they've pumped a half a million gallons into the damaged abutment to hold back water during days of heavy rain. This last Thursday, Corps of Engineers Col. Anthony Wright said that it is, indeed, doing it's job. The grout bonded with earthen materials to slow seepage enough that he was able to increase the capacity of the reservoir behind the dam of about 33% to about 50% of its normal capacity.
Therefore, reducing the risk of causing forced flooding in the Auburn valley region to about 1 in 25 with an overall risk of 1 in 33 with the sandbags and other security features to be installed.

Col. Wright maintains, however, that if we again experience Pineapple Express (a series of storms carrying heavy moisture from the subtropics) like we did in January, he would have to cause flooding by releasing water from the dam.

The new numbers are are fantastic improvement, but residents are still staying on guard.

King County Executive Kurt Triplett stated "the new percentage sounds great, but the reality is we had just that type of storm event 10 months ago. I'm definitely going to be sleeping easier..., but we're not out of the woods."

When the dam is fully restored with a concrete wall built within the abutment, there will only be a 1 in 140 chance of flooding. This could be 3 to 5 years away.

Halloween Office Contest!

In the spirit of Halloween, 3 offices compete for the pizza lunch!
Which is your favorite??

Kent Office





Des Moines Office





Lynnwood Office






Bellevue Office
Freeze, POLICE! .... Somebody isn't insured with SAV-ON ...

Unemployment Rate Rises Again

The unemployment rate has risen back to 9.2% here in Washington State after seeing a drop in rates in July, to 8.9%, (originally calcuated at 9.1%).

Washington lost about 8000 agricultural jobs last month after gaining 11,800 but the biggest decline was seen in professional and business services with a loss of 2500 jobs.

Retail trade and education and health services were also down 2400 and 1800 jobs, respectively, but government saw growth of 1800 new jobs, leisure and hospitality with 800, transportation, warehousing, and utilities, up 700, and construction with a gain of 200 jobs.

Economists say that the small gain in construction is a first since January 2008.

More than 319,000 people in Washington are still looking for work according to the Employment Security Department.

Last year at this time, Washington's unemployment rate was 5.4%. The state lost 126,100 jobs from August 2008 to August 2009, a 4.2 percent decrease. Nationally, employment declined by 4.3 percent over the past year.

However, Washington state's unemployment rate is lower than the national rate, which was 9.7% for August.


Thank you to KIRO News

PEMCO news release addresses politeness while driving

PEMCO Insurance issued a news release today, September 10, that reveals Washington drivers’ perceptions of how polite – or aggressive – their fellow motorists are. The PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, conducted by FBK Research, shows that women drivers consider themselves more polite, male drivers consider themselves more aggressive, and Western Washington drivers consider themselves slightly more polite than do Eastern Washington drivers. Also, it's amusing to note that all drivers see themselves as more polite than "the other guy," saying they witness other drivers being erratic or rude nearly 10 times as often.

When are Booster Seats Required?

"Age 4 to 8, unless they're 4-feet 9 inches tall," State Patrol Trooper Cliff Pratt said. "Anything 4 feet 9 inches or taller should be in a safety belt."

In a booster seat, the "shoulder belt should cross the shoulder and the chest," Pratt said. "It should never be under the child or behind the back. The lap belt should rest low across the lap or upper thigh area, not across the stomach."

RCW section 46.61.687 has more details, available here.


Thank you to the Seattle PI's "Seattle 911"

SAV-ON Proudly Sponsors Youth Sports Teams

SAV-ON is proud to support the local community and youth sports teams. Enjoy the team photos!


Co-Owner Rick Devitte proudly stands alongside the Des Moines Bulldogs Basketball team!



The Des Moines Dragons Baseball team are all smiles!










In addition to being active in the community, all 6 SAV-ON locations offer Northwest Harvest drop boxes all year round! Thanks to the Kent office for recently donating another full box!

Media Event Announces Solar Pie Project

Elected officials and news reporters will be at PEMCO tomorrow, Sept. 2, for a lunchtime media event announcing our support of Solar Pie, a local not-for-profit that teamed with our Real Estate department to install solar panels on PEMCO’s Home Office roof. The event takes place in PEMCO’s parking lot directly across Harrison Street from our loading dock.

During the event, we’ll “unveil” new information on our rooftop time and temperature sign. In addition to showing time and temperature, during daylight hours the sign will also show kilowatts being generated, while at night you’ll see reductions in carbon emissions made possible by the solar panels. Web surfers will be able to track the data at http://solarpie.org/pemco/, and a new webpage on pemco.com will summarize the Solar Pie project.

PEMCO is playing a support role in this project. Our purpose is to help Solar Pie’s principals, Carolyn and Scott Sherwood, educate the public that solar energy works, even in cloudy Seattle. The PEMCO Seattle Solar Pie Project is made possible by our Real Estate department; Seattle-based contractor McKinstry, project managers; and Seattle City Light and the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, regulatory oversight. For more information, check out the recent Seattle Times article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009614669_solarpie07m.html

This post was made possible on the behalf of Jon Osterberg, PEMCO marketing communications manager, 206-628-4019.

High-Tech Speed Traps Online In Bellevue

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- As nearly 17,000 students started school in Bellevue Monday, new high-tech speed traps went online.

Drivers will see the new cameras and warning signs as they approach Lake Hills and Stevenson elementary schools.

The sign surrounded with flashing lights gives drivers about 150 feet to slow down to the 20 mph school zone speed.

For the first 30 days, drivers who violate the speed zone during school start and release hours will get a warning. After the transition period, drivers caught on camera will be fined with a $124 ticket.

The Bellevue City Council's web site emphasizes that the council will be reviewing the cameras' performance every six months.

The City Council approved the pilot program early last April.


From KIRO Online

PEMCO: Texting While Driving Rate Up

PEMCO Insurance issued a news release, August 25, that reveals more Washingtonians are texting while driving. The PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, conducted by FBK Research, shows that of those who use electronic devices, more of them – 18% – admit to reading or sending text messages while driving than in February 2008, when only 6% said they did so. Ironically, the same poll found that increasing numbers of drivers are concerned that texting while driving is a dangerous distraction.

Des Moines Office Wins Prestigious Award

SAV-ON Insurance has been selected for the 2009 Best of Des Moines Award in the Insurance Agents category by the U.S. Commerce Association.

Each year, the US Commerce Association (USCA) identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Thank you to our wonderful clients and others that made this award possible. We will continue to strive for the most excellent service and provide to families and individuals in need in our local community.


US Commerce Association Website

WA Unemployment Rate Decreased in July

Are we seeing a change in our economic status? Washington State saw an unemployment rate decrease this last month at 9.1%, down from 9.2% in June. A small gain...but in the right direction!

We gained 4000 new non-agricultural jobs last month. The last time we had a gain in jobs was in November 2008.

Washington is below the national unemployment rate of 9.4% (July) but still, more than 315,850 people are currently unemployed and seeking work in this state alone.

Growth of Washington Population Slows

The annual population growth rate in Washington state has fallen .09%, according to the Office of Financial Management (OFM). And population gains due to migration have dropped from 81,000 in 2006 to 39,00 in 2009, according to Theresa Lowe, Washington's chief demographer.

“The continued housing contraction nationwide and poor economic conditions appear to be limiting the mobility of the population usually influenced by labor market opportunities,” Lowe said. “Many job seekers are finding it difficult to sell their homes or to relocate to accept employment at the price of paying two mortgages for an extended period.”

Immigration rates have also lowered with many permanent residents and situational immigrants returning home.

The population of Washington’s cities and towns totaled 4,115,700 on April 1, 2009, a growth of more than half a million people since the 2000 census count, reported OFM.


Thank you to KIRO

Vacant Duplex Erupts in Flames

A Federal Way, WA duplex left vacant due to foreclosure has erupted in flames for the second time in 2 days.

Officials stated when the firefighters arrived early this morning, flames were emerging visibly from multiple rooms on the second floor.

The home was boarded up Monday after the first fire.

Firefighters are investigating.

44 Citations in Clark County Crackdown

Police issued 44 driving citations during last weekend’s extra patrols aimed at speeders and impaired drivers.

Of the 44, three were cited on suspicion of driving under the influence, eight for speeding, one for aggressive driving and the remaining number for a variety of violations, said Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp.

The patrols took place in Clark County, WA on Friday and Saturday as part of a statewide emphasis dubbed "X52" and initiated by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

The added patrols take place every week in a different part of the state and are paid for by grant money from the safety commission. The grant money covers overtime.


Thank you to Columbian News

Flood Insurance: When is it Important?

There are many factors to look at when deciding whether or not to purchase flood insurance but two important things to consider are where you live and the geographic risks for flooding. Common risks for flooding are tropical storms, hurricanes, spring thaw, heavy rains, levees and dams, flash floods, coastal threats and new developments/construction.

Surely, most everyone understands the devastating effects of flooding and the costs; astronomical! So we are providing a great website for you to use while making your decision regarding the purchase of flood insurance. This website can answer many questions for you. We highly recommend that you access it and read through: www.floodsmart.gov.

One thing many people do not realize is their homeowners insurance does not cover most aspects of flooding. For those of you who live in the Kent Valley, WA area we strongly suggest reading the following article: Howard Hanson Dam issues could complicate next rainy season.

Here at SAV-ON, we feel knowledge is power and very important when making life changing decisions! We encourage you to read up and be prepared or ask an agent! You can call us toll-free 1-888-867-2866 or e-mail info@sav-on.com.