well I assume they're talking decades for everything to radioactively cool enough to dismantle.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

Scrapping the reactors decades after they are brought under control? Bringing them under control?

Removing and properly handling the remains of the rods in spent fuel pools would considerably reduce, but certainly not eliminate, the dangers of major atmospheric releases. This will almost certainly have to be done by specialized remotely controlled and/or robotic devices. Ideally, this should be done prior to them erecting new containment structures over the facilities, unless these structures are designed to accommodate such devices. I am not optimistic.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."