NASA and Lockheed Martin employees were safe

I found it quite odd, the employees who stayed in a NASA facility were awarded with medals for staying there to protect equipment. The source comes right off the NASA website

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. mobilized within hours to deliver supplies to recovery teams working to restore communications and power. Building supplies, construction tools, personal items, food, bottled water and medicine were flown in by helicopter.

Odd, I would've thought they might be able to help the majority of people who were out side the stadium place first.