Hundreds of people are fanning out to find a missing East Greenbush teenager. Our Lori Chung has more on why family members say this is no ordinary runaway case.

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EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. — “It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare and everyday gets worse,” said Stephen Smith.

For Smith and his wife Loriann, the not knowing is the hardest since their daughter Hannah went missing New Year’s Day.

“She just doesn’t even know” said Loriann. “So many people’s hearts are broken.”

Their anguish is tempered by community support. Hundreds of friends and family gathered at Community Gospel Church to prepare to blanket the region with flyers to bring the 16 year-old home.

“We’re just hoping that the more flyers that we get out, somebody will see her and recognize her.”

Family members said Hanna has been struggling with anxiety and depression because of a brain injury suffered two years ago when she was nearly killed by a drunk driver, impairing her ability to make rational decisions.

“She’s gone, she doesn’t have her medication, she’s a very vulnerable person” said Loriann. “This is not a typical runaway case. This is a child who has already been the victim of one crime.”

With all the community support, thousands of flyers will go up to find Hanna Smith as those who love her worry about where she is and who she’s with.

“I think someone’s got to be assisting her,” said Loriann.

Her father Stephen added, “She’s a 16 year old girl, who needs to be home and if somebody’s helping her, [then] they need to do the right thing and send her home.”

Until then, many at the church offer a shoulder to the family, like Mary Lyle, herself a mother of a missing daughter.

“I can’t even begin to tell you all the emotions that we have,” said Lyle. “You always want your child right beside you.”

Her parents are now holding on to faith that they’ll have Hanna close again real soon.

“Just come home Hanna,” said Loriann.

“We need her home and she needs to be home,” said Stephen.

Hanna Smith is described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 115 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call East Greenbush Police.