It looks like the NASA and the DOD are starting to move. Defensenews.com is reporting that NASA will send a Predator and the Air Force will provide a Global Hawk.  Once they decide to move, the defense juggernaut can get going.  While I would say they were a day too slow, it is welcome news to see these assets being put to good use.

From the article by Vago Muradian:

•  A NASA spokesman said the agency’s Ikhana UAV — a version of the Pentagon’s Predator B built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems — is being readied for a nine-hour mission from the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base near Lancaster, Calif. The Air Force plans to fly its Global Hawk by Northrop Grumman on daily 16-hour missions over the coming seven days from Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif., one source said. 

I’m not sure whether Excalibur had any effect, but I actually posted a recommendation on Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff’s blog here. The comment was posted to FEMA Director Paulison’s post which he wrote while flying to San Diego.  My comment hasn’t shown up yet, perhaps it never will, but at least we tried….