On Oct. 8, 1918, the Birmingham City Commission passed a resolution to close places of large gatherings, such as churches and movie houses, and barred public meetings. Some schools were converted to emergency hospitals.

Circuit court judges decided to adjourn their courts for at least two weeks to help prevent the spread of influenza, as did the criminal and civil divisions of the municipal courts.

Finally, the Birmingham board of revenue granted Health Officer Dowling full authority to use city funds to fight the epidemic, including isolating in hospitals all cases that could not be treated effectively at their homes.