On 14 August 1971 a tornado struck Kin Kin, a small community between Noosa and Gympie north of Brisbane, killing three people, destroying eight farmhouses and causing considerable damage to part of the town. The storm descended on the valley 9.30pm, a massive hail storm leaving a damage bill of more than $100,000.

Relief grants were immediately made available of $500 as announced by the Minister of Works and Housing. The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the original cost to be $250,000, with the normalised 2017 cost being $20,353,129.