The actress was involved in a bad car accident just before the holidays and is treated at UNC Chapel Hill Hospital in North California.
According to a fund-raising page which was set to financially help Hurst, the actress is awake from medically-induced coma, reported Ace Showbiz.
"Hurst has opened her eyes!" the page's administrator wrote.
"Michelle is in the ICU. We can't send flowers or visit, only family. She is progressing slowly, but progressing."
The administrator also said that Hurst was responsive.
Piper Kerman, who wrote a memoir which inspired 'Orange Is the New Black' story, tweeted the link to the page and asked for help.
The series' cast member Natasha Lyonne additionally wrote, "Please give what you can to help Michelle Hurst - the amazing actress who plays Ms Claudette on 'OITNB'.