With condolences for your loss, if you had snow or some other protection at the base of the azaleas, that's almost certainly the explanation for what you are seeing. The harsh winter cold and wind killed the flower buds on the upper part of the bushes, but the the lower parts were spared because they had some sort of insulation.

There are many detailed instructions for caring for azaleas online and in books - far more than is practical to write here. For now,check the upper branches to see if there are new green buds. Scratch away a bit of the bark to see if there is green beneath. If either is true, be patient and the plants will likely recover. If there is no green beneath the bark, cut back to the point where there is. The azaleas will regrow from there.

Thank you so much for the advice. There is defiantly some green around the top so I think they will be ok but I will definitely check the bark. Thank you again!