Abstract: In 2022, Hunan Province was suffering an unprecedented consecutive drought spanning summer, autumn, and winter since the initiation of record-keeping in 1961. To thoroughly investigate the drought evolution and summarize the insights obtained in mitigating extreme drought conditions, this study scrutinized the distinct characteristics during different stages of meteorological and hydrological drought. Subsequently, the entire process of drought defense was systematically reviewed. The results indicated that the 2022 drought evolution could be classified into five stages: initiation, persistence, intensification, peak, and alleviation. Throughout the drought mitigation process, the prominent orchestration of leadership across all levels and the unequivocal delineation of tasks and responsibilities played crucial roles. The proactive engagement of officials at every level, accurate forecasts, and the meticulous implementation of drought relief measures were also in good time. Consequently, the minimization of drought-induced damages was achieved, ensuring a reliable supply of water resources and stable food production. Simultaneously, during the drought mitigation process, innovative strategies such as the Hunan-specific drought relief working group, "7531 Working Mechanism", "8 Precisions Guide" and "8 Enhancements Guide" were developed to bolster drought resilience. These approaches provide empirical evidence and valuable insights for future drought mitigation efforts.