"Yet the state's website has a document showing that she made the request on August 28."
I would appreciate if you would post the url showing this document.
Thanks
Here is a link to the text of Blanco's August 28 letter:
http://www.yuricareport.com/Disaster/BlancoToPresident_letter8_28_05.html
The August 27 letter asked for federal assistance in a total amount of 9 million, the August 28th in the amount of 130 million.
A theme that emerges from these pieces of correspnodence is that the state drives the federal response.