Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggested disaster relief is coming to flood-ravaged communities in New Brunswick. But he says government and aid workers first want to make sure they handle the immediate effects of the flooding.

Harper made the comments as he surveyed the damage caused by massive flooding along the St. John River. He visited the hardest-hit regions of the province, where more about 600 people have left their homes due to flooding. About 800 people are without power.

"A lot of houses are under. But at the same time, my sense is (that) -- even though I know people are always upset when they're out of their homes -- people seem to be handling it well. (There was) good anticipation by this province and various agencies that are on top of it -- our federal and provincial agencies have been cooperating very well, so we'll get through this, he said.

"And then we'll get into all the business of the federal Emergency Act, and disaster relief, and that's in the weeks to come."

Harper first visited the community of Maugerville. He then went to the Edmundston area in northern New Brunswick.

The swollen St. John River appears to be slowly receding in Fredericton, but residents to the south of the provincial capital are preparing for even higher flood levels.

Evacuations have taken place in Maugerville, Sheffield and Jemseg areas to the southeast of Fredericton.

Power has been shut off for more than 750 people in flood-affected areas. That number includes dairy farmers struggling to care for their herds without electricity.

Dairy farmers worked with military officials in a desperate effort to save the livelihood of one local family. The family had cattle knee-deep in water. Friday night, 46 cows were loaded on to a barge for a rescue that's believed to be the first of its kind.

A power shutoff on Thursday prompted many to decide it was time to abandon ship and move to safety -- and others were told they had to leave.

"Many residents were surprised they couldn't stay. I know a lot of them really, really wanted to. It's almost a rite of passage here -- you have to survive a flood in your home and there's a little bit of bravado in it as well," O'Halloran said. She noted that others were relieved to have help to get out safely.

Most businesses and government buildings in the affected areas remained closed on Friday.

In Fredericton, floodwaters are expected to diminish significantly over the weekend thanks to dry, sunny weather. According to emergency officials, water levels there are at about eight metres above sea level. They are expected to drop to 7.7 metres by Saturday.

The City of Saint John began feeling the effects of heavy rain and snow melt in the north of the province on Thursday.

Premier Shawn Graham has promised financial help to those who have been affected by the flood, and has said the funding will include a federal contribution.

So far, Ottawa has provided equipment such as tents, heaters, off-road vehicles and an engineer barge. Crews from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard have also been called out to help.

With files from The Canadian Press