On Sept. 26, 1918, Washington, D.C. Health Officer Dr. W. C. Fowler warned the public to be cautious about influenza, but he did not believe that threat of a large-scale epidemic was serious. Within a few days, however, as reports of additional civilian cases and a few deaths trickled into his office, Fowler became slightly more concerned.

Health Officer Fowler and other district officials quickly changed their tune, however. On the morning of Wednesday, October 2, the school board decided to close all public schools effective at noon, sending approximately 50,000 students home for the duration of the epidemic.