In my humble opinion (really), short of homing in on the ELT yourself, there's nothing more that you could've done.
It seems to me that you fully used the system as it was designed.
However the problem is not with American airspace, it's design or the people using it.
The problem goes back about 20 years ago when Ronnie Reagan fired a whole slew of controllers. ATC has been desperately short ever since.
ATC is swamped (especially in Florida).
Fly safe.
P.S. You might want to write a letter to the editor of your local newpaper or even one to the local congressman. Explain that attempts to use the system failed to raise the appropriate authority when time was of the essence.
[ 29 July 2001: Message edited by: zerozero ]