THREAD: Tonight we met Jeff Kaas. Normally, he and his employees would be making furniture out of this Mukilteo shop. Now, he’s teamed up with @providence to help make 10 million face masks as PPE supplies continue to dwindle. “It’s been crazy,” he says #KOMONews 
This all began earlier in the week. Providence came up with the blueprint. He and his team are now putting them together. So far, they’ve made more than 5,600 face masks and close to 1,000 face shields. It’s just the start, “we’re going to ramp this up quickly” #KOMONews
They’re still streamlining the process. His connections in Europe have come up with a “digital design package” so that this can be done around the globe. In a matter of days, Kaas says at least 25 states of the info and data needed to do this for local hospitals #KOMONews
“The whole idea is if this is our time, we’re going to rise and run.” His furniture business will most definitely take a hit. He honestly doesn’t know if he’ll be able to stay in business. As of now, he and his staff are doing this on the company’s dime #KOMONews
The Senior VP of @providence says those 10 million masks are needed at their 51 hospitals. Across the US, she estimates the need to be 100 million. “The unknown is how big this surge is going to get,” said Jennifer Bayersdorfer. “Demand will continue to escalate” #KOMONews
They’re looking to add more manufacturers in this battle. As for the shortage, Bayersdorfer says production in China slowed dramatically as they dealt with the virus + used much of the supply, “it’s created a gap in the typical supply chain” #KOMONews
She adds many hospitals are now being asked to reuse or extend the use of PPE and that distribution may not return to normal for 30-60 days. Both she and Kaas say these kinds of collaborations are what the county needs in the face of this crisis. Catch our story at 11 #KOMONews
