No matter what the term of art is (e.g., LA declares "State of Emergency" which is just another word for "martial law," and even those come in any form required to get the task done then restore full civil liberties), the federal/state relationship and state-to-state relationship is independent of the in-state law.
Right now, Blanco is trying to keep the authority, but shed the responsibility.
Absolutely. Not that she ever accepted any responsibility to begin with...