The Oklahoma Homeland Security Act outlines OKOHS strategic objectives:

• Prevent a terrorist attack in Oklahoma;
• Reduce Oklahoma’s vulnerability to terrorist attack; and
• Minimize the damage from and respond to a terrorist attack should one occur.

The duties of the office also include:

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive statewide homeland security strategy;
• Planning and implementing a statewide response system;
• Administering the homeland security advisory system;
• Coordinating, applying for and distributing federal homeland security grant funds; and
• Implement national homeland security plans.

The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security is not intended to be an additional layer of bureaucratic red tape within state government. The focus of the office is singular by design—prevent, protect and prepare Oklahoma for terrorism by means of a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or Explosive (CBRNE) device. 

OKOHS works closely with state agencies staffed with well-trained and qualified experts in areas such as agriculture, natural disasters and/or public health. OKOHS functions as a coordinating entity between state agencies to avoid duplication of efforts and conserve limited state and federal resources.