Water’s Edge Clinics to Stay Closed as Crews Secure Building, Assess Storm Damage

Dec 18

Written By Columbia Community Connection

By Joshuah Albert and Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Dec. 17, 2025 — Clinics at the Water’s Edge medical building in The Dalles will remain closed through the weekend as Adventist Health Columbia Gorge works toward a modified reopening following extensive damage caused by a violent windstorm early Wednesday morning.

Winds were clocked at 66 MPH plus.

Hospital officials said a section of the roof was torn off the three-story building during the storm, leaving widespread structural and water damage throughout the facility. A walkthrough conducted later Wednesday revealed the damage was more severe than initially expected.

“We don’t yet know how long repairs will take, but this is going to take longer than we hoped at first,” said Jayme Thompson, administrator for Adventist Health Columbia Gorge.

The Water’s Edge building houses primary care clinics, walk-in immediate care, cardiology services, rehabilitation therapies and a sleep center. All clinics, including Immediate Care, will remain closed while care is moved to temporary locations, hospital officials said.

Three patients were undergoing overnight sleep studies when the storm struck.

“They were quickly and safely evacuated thanks to our amazing Sleep Center employee,” Thompson said. “It’s a miracle no one was injured.”

Hospital officials said the majority of affected patients have been contacted and rescheduled. Patients needing immediate medical attention are advised to seek care at the nearest emergency room.

An earlier phone outage caused by storm damage has been resolved, and the hospital is developing a centralized call center to assist patients impacted by the closure of Water’s Edge.

Crews were active at the site Wednesday, with contractors erecting chain-link fencing around the building to secure the area. Heavy equipment operators removed twisted roofing and construction debris from the parking lot, while workers on the second-floor balcony tossed damaged materials into an articulated bucket below.

Contractors were also preparing to install a temporary, fire-rated polyethylene covering—approximately 2,000 square feet in size—over the damaged section of the roof to prevent additional water intrusion. That work was expected to be completed later today.

Water damage inside the building was exacerbated when the fire sprinkler system activated at the same time as the storm.

The Water’s Edge building, constructed in 2009, encompasses about 55,000 square feet and sits on roughly three acres. Adventist Health does not own the property; it is owned by Lone Pine Holdings LLC, according to state business records. Ownership representatives said responsibility for repairs rests with the building’s owners.

Adventist Health Columbia Gorge officials said additional updates on clinic operations and temporary care locations will be shared as assessments and repairs continue.