OCONTO, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- A year and a half after Brian Sohr and his wife finally moved into their dream home along the Oconto River, Brian Sohr says he sold off his farmland was excited to start the next phase in his life.

Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a happy time in their life turned into a disaster.

Flooding has become a common occurrence for Sohr and homeowners along the bay.

“What needs to be here is basically less rainfall and there is no way to stop it. We are at nature's mercy,” Sohr said.

Last week, the city of Oconto experienced the worst flooding its seen since 1986. It was the result of an ice jam in the Oconto River. 

Sohr says this was the tipping point.

“I twisted my ankle as iI was trying to get everything off the floors. I tore my meniscus and my knee and now I am on crutches. I had to have surgery on the 31st,” he said.

Sohr knows he is fortunate to have flood insurance because many of his neighbors living along the river do not.

“A lot of the homes here have been condemned -the city has condemned them and flooding has taken over the homes and they have been devastated with all the water, “ he said.

Sohr’s thirty-three hundred square foot home will need to be completely gutted due to contaminants in the water.

He says his Insurance requires that he rebuild within 180 days. His biggest fear now is finding a contractor.

“There is so much work out there for them it is going to be difficult even getting someone in,” Sohr said.