WARWICK, R.I. - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano took a helicopter tour over still-flooded Rhode Island on Friday, witnessing waterlogged shopping malls and homes with people's possessions laid out to dry in their yards, as residents and officials in the already economically troubled state pleaded for her to secure more federal aid.

Napolitano called the flooding "significant" and pledged the federal government's help in the months to come. Elected leaders, including U.S. Reps. Jim Langevin and Patrick Kennedy, pressed for more than what's already been promised to the state, where a disaster declaration was extended.

"We were already reeling from a bad economy. This is the last thing that Rhode Island could deal with, and yet, here we are," Langevin, whose district was hardest hit, said to Napolitano during a news conference. "Families, individuals, businesses need the help, as soon as possible."

The National Weather Service said it did not expect the Pawtuxet River, source of much of the flooding, to go below flood stage until at least today. Many neighborhoods and businesses have been underwater since Monday due to three days of record-setting rain that caused the worst flooding in the state in at least 200 years. It was the second round of major flooding this month.

Gov. Don Carcieri has said the floods likely caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, and state labor officials said as many as 4,000 people are temporarily out of work. Carcieri on Friday expressed his appreciation to President Barack Obama and Napolitano for their support.

"The response from the federal government to assist Rhode Island has been tremendous," he said.

Obama had already declared a disaster in much of Rhode Island, which triggers some federal money, although the state is required to match 25 percent of the disaster funds. On Friday, the major disaster declaration was extended to the last remaining area, Bristol County, meaning the entire state is considered a federal disaster area.