POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The Polk County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to declare a state of emergency to address the lack of trash collection recently in unincorporated parts of the area.

The declaration says these issues "endanger the public health, safety and welfare of Polk residents."

This declaration allows county resources to be used to tackle the problem, including setting up emergency housing for residents and emergency storage for trash, buying "merchandise, equipment, vehicles, or property needed to alleviate the emergency" and more.