HITCHCOCK — The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating allegations that laborers in Galveston County weren’t paid for weeks of roofing jobs associated with the government’s blue-roof project.

Roofers from across the country, who spent weeks living in tents and hammering blue tarpaulins on homes damaged by Hurricane Ike, say they haven’t been paid and that the government-funded program left them penniless with no way home.

“We’ve opened an investigation into contractors working on the blue-roof projects in Galveston, but because it’s an open investigation, I’m not at liberty to discuss details,” said Elizabeth Todd, a spokeswoman with U.S. Department of Labor in Dallas.

Ike made landfall Sept. 13 in Galveston, causing severe flooding and damaging much of the upper Texas coast. The storm’s 110-mph winds also damaged roofs in the county, blowing shingles to the ground.

Barb Sturner of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the agency enlisted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage the project, which stopped granting right-of-entry permits last month.

Sturner said the project funded temporary repairs to roofs damaged by the storm.

Bruce McGuire, 28, of Concord, N.H., was among a dozen construction workers who remained last week at the Jack Brooks Park fairgrounds, which became ground zero for about 300 laborers who flocked to Hitchcock and slept in the tent city.

McGuire blamed the lack of oversight on FEMA, the Corps of Engineers, primary contractors and subcontractors, which he said left his crew of 15 laborers scrambling to find side jobs to earn money to return home.

McGuire said he is owned more than $10,000 for four weeks of work.

“With this situation, I will never do it again,” said McGuire, who lost his leased home. “My two little girls are living with my mom and girlfriend.”

Lew Benham, a member of the Rodeo Fairgrounds executive committee, said Grace Construction contracted with the fairgrounds to use the facility.

Benham said the company initially requested space for tents, but rented a metal building. Grace paid the Fairgrounds $15,000 last week, less than half of what is owed, Brenham said. Grace Construction could not be reached for comment.

Attorney Clement Aldridge Jr. said he represents Unlimited Security of Texas City, which has yet to receive payment for guarding the fairgrounds.

Aldridge said Grace Construction owes the company for three pay periods.

Troy Height, 43, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., said he came to Hitchcock to work on the roofing project, but quickly learned he wouldn’t be paid $300 a day, which he said was what an Internet classifieds post declared.

“The price wasn’t right, so I contracted my own stuff in Galveston,” Height said.

Anthony Hall, 46, of Orlando, Fla., was also working as an independent contractor while staying at the fairgrounds.

“I certainly would not get on a roof for 2 cents per square foot,” Hall said.

Buddy Hall, a La Marque licensed contractor says he’s owed $26,000 for working on the project.

Hall said he wants to help collect names and telephone numbers of workers who weren’t paid, so he can forward the information to authorities.

The number Hall set up is 713-866-6594.