ELLENTON, Fla. — Many families across the Bay Area are in the midst of a balancing act of rebuilding, while also preparing for this year’s storm season.

One Manatee County family is still displaced from their home, but after a lengthy delay, is finally rebuilding.

A trailer sitting next to their home has been the new norm for Kailey Gratzer.

“So we have four — we have me and my husband and two boys. Our two boys, 14 and 11. It’s been fun. We have learned to adjust,” she said.

The trailer is an adjustment that she’s been living in since December.

“When we first flooded, we were very, very blessed to have a family that goes to church with us let us stay in one of their homes for free for three months while we were able to get this put into place,” Gratzer said.

The storm surge from Hurricane Helene flooded their home. There was two feet of water inside, but they hadn’t evacuated and had to escape the waters through a window. She said living by the Manatee River meant flooding was always a concern.

Now the concern is the rebuild progress, which Gratzer said just began two weeks ago due to a long waiting period for permits and insurance money.

“It took a long time. It was very frustrating," she said. "I tend to look on the more optimistic side, and I am strong in my faith. So I’m like, OK, the Lord is trying to teach me patience at the moment."

Gratzer estimates it could be another six to eight weeks until work on the house is complete.

“I mean, my biggest worry is that we’re not back in before hurricane season," she said.

For now, the goal is just to continue working on the house.

“My biggest hope is that this whole flooding situation was a fluke and never happens again, but next time we’ll be more prepared,” Gratzer said.