Hurricane Florence erupted in a fury that took at least 43 lives and left many folks without homes. As folks braced for the "storm of a generation," no one ever expected the natural disaster to provide those living on the coast with free marijuana.

A huge block of what was initially thought to be seaweed washed ashore in the Daytona Beach area last week, but beachgoers were in for a high surprise, according to the Washington Post.

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As those on the beach began realizing the flotsam wasn't seaweed, but in fact, marijuana weed, swimmers began fighting over the supply.

Huge marijuana bundles are washing up on Florida beaches after hurricane Florence, and swimmers are fighting over them https://t.co/Ej3dYKKxUo
pic.twitter.com/Pytzwo6Tjr

— National Post (@nationalpost) September 18, 2018

Amid the chaos, 911 was called, and sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene.

“We’re at Jungle Hut and a huge bundle of drugs or something just washed up on the beach and there are people like fighting over it”: After Hurricane Florence, huge bricks of weed are washing ashore in Florida…. https://t.co/JtYoS1Doux

— Richard Fausset (@RichardFausset) September 18, 2018

The officers quickly locked down the area, and announced that anyone who finds weed washed up on the beach and tries to keep it will face criminal charges. So far, authorities have recovered an estimated 100 pounds of marijuana, and they suspect the bricks came from a boat overturned by the storm or from a missed airplane drop.

One man, Robert Kelley, has been arrested and charged with possession of marijuana weighing over 20 grams for attempting to pocket a brick that washed ashore, according to the National Post.

In a press release about the arrest, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly called Kelley's arrest “another great example of ‘See Something, Say Something’ … thanks to the joint effort of our citizens’ watchful eyes and good police work these narcotics are off the streets. To anyone thinking they can take advantage of marijuana washing up on shore, I have a warning for you. Is it worth a trip to the Green Roof Inn charged with a felony just for some ‘free’ weed?”

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The confiscated weed was turned into Customs and Border Protection. Authorities have yet to discover the source of the contraband.

Now, check these out:

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Affluent Florence Survivors Are Already Back To Normal While The Hood Is Sittin' In The Dark

A Weather Reporter Was Caught Faking It After Seemingly Being Blown Away By Florence Winds As Two Men Calmly Walked Down The Street

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