A local businessman who survived Hurricane Katrina is now offering advice to those dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
Franklin Lee says moving to the Midwest was a change he had no choice but to adjust to.
He used cooking New Orleans style food as a way to heal.
Now he's hoping to help others.
Lee Franklin is preparing for another week of cooking Cajun style food for the people of Omaha.
"I came here and I fell in love with it."
12 years ago he was serving a prison sentence in Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina hit his hometown.
"If it wasn't for my faith in God I know I wouldn't have made it."
After Franklin was released he moved here to Omaha with his family.
"When you are used to staying somewhere all your life and you come somewhere else it's different.”
“A lot of people don't like change but if you like change, it was good for me."
As a way to adjust to the change Franklin started a food truck business, giving people in Omaha a taste of New Orleans.
"I knew it was a big opening for authentic Cajun food."
As a hurricane survivor Franklin says he wants to help the people in Texas who are also being forced to start over.
"It's just bringing me back to the Katrina days and it is a hurt feeling to see everyone going through that."
His sous-chef Christopher Barrow says he also survived Katrina, and wants to encourage other hurricane victims.
"You can always get those material things back."
Both men say it was a good support system that helped them overcome.
"It took me years to get past that but, I had the help of different churches and family members."
With time they were able to rebuild.
"Prayer and faith is the best thing to get you through."
Franklin's sous-chef says he's hoping to go to Texas this weekend to help victims get back on their feet.
