Janesville Church Flooded, Musicians Rescued

Severe storms in Rock County forced emergency response to save stranded musicians at First Lutheran Church.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:04am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, depicting a partially submerged church building surrounded by rising floodwaters and heavy rain, conveying the overwhelming power of nature.A powerful storm overwhelms a small church, highlighting the vulnerability of community spaces to extreme weather events.Janesville Today

A group of musicians from across the Midwest were trapped inside First Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wisconsin, on Friday night as floodwaters crashed through the doors during a severe storm. The musicians had to be rescued by firefighters after their cars were submerged under the rising waters. The church is now asking for volunteers to help remove damaged furniture and other items.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the dangers of extreme weather events and the importance of emergency preparedness, especially for public gathering spaces like churches. The flooding also caused significant property damage and disrupted the musicians' performance schedules, underscoring the ripple effects of natural disasters.

The details

As heavy rain and hail pounded the area, the group of musicians watched as water levels rose around their parked cars under the church's awning. When the water reached the car windows, they realized they were in trouble and called 911 for rescue. Janesville firefighters arrived and safely evacuated everyone from the flooded church. The musicians' vehicles were completely submerged, resulting in a total loss.

  • On Friday night, severe storms hit the Janesville, Wisconsin area.
  • The flooding and rescue operation took place on April 19, 2026.

The players

Christine Biswabic

A musician from Marinette, Wisconsin who was trapped inside the flooded church and recorded video of the water breaking through the entrance.

Mike Anderson

A musician from Springfield, Illinois who had driven to Janesville for a festival and was stranded inside the church as his car was submerged.

First Lutheran Church

The church in Janesville, Wisconsin where the musicians were trapped during the severe flooding.

Janesville Fire Department

The emergency responders who arrived and rescued the musicians from the flooded church.

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What they’re saying

“We started to hear popping, and we ran to the front railing of the upstairs. And all of sudden this big huge door with that thick glass exploded. It sounded like a bomb going off and everybody just about jumped out of their skin.”

— Christine Biswabic, Musician

“We are looking at the windows and seeing the water climbing and climbing. When it got to the passenger side, driver side windows, we realized we were in trouble. This was not good.”

— Christine Biswabic, Musician

“I have seven performances next week and I don't have a vehicle.”

— Mike Anderson, Musician

What’s next

The church is asking for volunteers to help remove furniture and other items damaged by the floodwaters. That cleanup effort is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of emergency preparedness for public gathering spaces like churches, especially in areas prone to severe weather events. The flooding caused significant disruption and property damage, highlighting the need for robust disaster response plans to protect vulnerable populations and ensure the continuity of community activities.