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G. Replacement of EBT cards and destroyed supplemental foods, See WV Policy & Procedures 1.10.F & 3.07.A H. Mailing of EBT Cards If an EBT card is mailed, clinic should use first class mail with one of the following phrases included on the envelope: “Do Not Forward, Return to Sender” or “Do Not Forward, Address Correction Requested.” The exterior of the envelope will not mention WIC or “Women, Infants, and Children” including on the return address and will not use envelopes with windows. I. Verification of Certification (VOC) Issuance – See WV Policy and Procedure 1.10.E The SA and LA will update their public web pages/social media accounts with instructions for obtaining an up-to-date VOC and to notify neighboring State agencies of where a VOC may be obtained by displaced participants. This policy should help to expedite the certification process and ease transition to another SA. IV. Benefit Issuance and Redemption The Crossroads WV databases are backed up nightly and the servers have failover if one server goes down. WV is looking at Cloud and hosted solutions. WV has only had one day that the system was down in the past 10 years and clients could not be certified. Clients with benefits could still redeem their benefits at the store during that time. If a clinic has infrastructure issues, other clinics can sign into the affected clinic and serve clients remotely. The EBT system ensures robust telecommunications redundancy by utilizing commercial networks and available commercial POS terminals, or FIS-installed WIC-only stand-beside hardware, for benefit redemption. To enhance system reliability, the system includes backup host processing capabilities that conform to federal regulations, national standards, and specified WIC State Office performance standards. These measures ensure continuous service availability and data integrity, even in the event of network or system failures. Remote benefit issuance will be available for all appointments excluding an appointment to determine eligibility for a second or subsequent certification period. A. WIC participants may require a change in food package during a disaster. 1. Ready-to-feed infant formula may be issued when water sources are not safe. 2. Formula in supply at the WIC clinic may be distributed to WIC participants, as necessary. 3. There are no exemptions or exceptions allowed when medical documentation is required for the issuance of certain supplemental foods, including exempt infant formulas during disasters. 4. A homeless food package may be issued to WIC participants with no storage and/or electricity. 5. WIC personnel will provide nutrition counseling and handouts about safety when cooking, eating and drinking following a disaster, as necessary. 6