Hoover Dam Catastrophic Failure Caught on Camera Handheld phone footage captures a catastrophic structural failure at Hoover Dam from a public overlook. In broad daylight, deep cracks race across the dam’s massive concrete face as the structure begins to fracture. Sections shear away without warning, and enormous torrents of water burst through the breaches, exploding outward in white spray and concrete debris. Dust clouds billow as large chunks collapse into the canyon below. The camera shakes