Oakland County, Michigan, April 10, 2008 -- Seniors who lost everything in Wednesday's devastating fire in West Bloomfield Township - including crucial papers and identification - are getting assistance from the Oakland and Wayne county clerks.

"These seniors have been through such a traumatic experience - imagine losing everything that you own, photos of loved ones, treasured mementos, clothes, medications and all your ID, from driver's licenses, medical insurance cards and  birth certificates to marriage certificates," said Ruth Johnson. "Some of them are so frail. We are going to do everything in our power to assist them in getting the documents and identification they'll need to pay bills, cash checks and get back on their feet."

Hundreds of seniors were evacuated during the fire at the Jewish Federation assisted-living apartment complex on Maple Road in West Bloomfield Township.

The Oakland County Clerk's Office has set up a hotline for those seniors and their families at (248) 858-9599, Johnson said.

While the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office will be able to assist with Oakland County documents, some of the seniors were reportedly born in Wayne County. Johnson contacted Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett who immediately agreed to help streamline the process for the fire victims born in Wayne County by setting up a hotline at (313) 224-6803.

"This is the true essence of what being a public servant is about," Garrett said. "We'll do whatever we can to assist them in their time of need."

All Michigan records of birth, marriage and death are available through the state's Vital Records Office. They can be ordered online at www.michigan.gov/mdch. For more information from the state, call (517) 335-8666.

Johnson said the need for documents to obtain identification came to her attention after she was contacted by Shelley Taub, a former state representative and Oakland County commissioner. Taub's mother, 97, who has Alzheimer's disease and Taub's mother-in-law, 92, use wheelchairs. Both were saved from the blaze Wednesday.

Taub, whose home is not wheelchair accessible, said getting the women safe and sound was her foremost concern. They now have round-the-clock care and more clothing is on its way. She said she is worried about getting the women proper identification so they can get their medicine on time and pay bills.

"I tried to cancel their phone service this morning and was told I'd need a copy of their bill," Taub said. "They lost everything. I kept telling the phone company, 'The building burned down, I don't have a bill.'  I'm sure these seniors will appreciate anything Ruth Johnson and Cathy Garrett can do to assist them."

Johnson said her office will look at establishing a more permanent program to assist those in need of identification because of devastating circumstances.